GILGIT, Feb 19: The Northern Areas police have arrested 16 people for allegedly burning and exploding seven primary schools in Darel tehsil of Diamer district.

Home Secretary Saeed Ahmed Khan said on Wednesday that the suspects belonged to religious extremist groups and two of them were members of two outlawed organizations.

Mr Khan added that in Darel some religious activists assumed that they were progressively losing ground with the opening of the primary schools in their area. He claimed the admissions in religious seminaries dropped to only seven students with the opening of the schools.

Mr Khan, who is also the information secretary, said that the government had set up schools in Darel on the demand of the people, but frustration of a handful of religious extremists caused damaged to the schools.

Mr Khan said that though the extremists were against co-education, the area's religious leaders condemned the act of burning and blowing up the schools. Replying to a question, Mr Khan said that the local leaders fully cooperated with the administration in the investigations. He said that of the 16 suspects, four belonged to Gilgit district while 12 were from Darel.