Intense clashes between student protesters and security forces erupted in and around several educational institutions across Kashmir valley on Wednesday as demand for justice for 8-year-old victim of rape and murder in Kathua district of Jammu got shriller. Sensing trouble, the authorities announced to close down intermediate schools and colleges in several sensitive localities on Thursday.
Scores of students and security personnel including a Station House Officer were injured in clashes across the valley.
Sources said students clashed with police and paramilitaries at Pulwama and Anantnag district headquarters after protests against rape and murder turned violent. The protesting students hurled rocks at the security personnel who in turn showered pellets and tear smoke shells. The students chanted slogans in favour of terrorists and Kashmir’s secession from India.
The clashes triggered spontaneous shutdown in the restive town. Hospital sources said that over a dozen students were admitted for treatment and many of them were hit with pellets.
Clashes also broke out in Awantipora ton where students of Islamic University of Science and technology took to streets to demand justice for the rape victim. A police officer was injured in clashes with the protesting students while as several students were also wounded. The studnets attempted to block a portion of Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The University authorities later suspended classwork and postponed examinations scheduled on Thursday.
At least half a dozen students were injured in Tral sub-district of south Kashmir when Rashtriya Rifles troops barged into degree college premises to chase protesting students. The ingress of army into the college premises triggered massive clashes as hundreds of students and faculty members were caught inside the buildings. Several female students fainted due to suffocation and fear due to pitched battle between protesters and security forces.
Sources said that after the army left the college premises at the insistence of local administrator, a group of hooligans attacked the college building with stones causing further damage to the property.
In Anantnag, at least a dozen students were injured in clashes with police and paramilitaries.
Protests were also held in Ganderbal, Sopore, Magam, Kulgam and Srinagar in many colleges and secondary schools.
The authorities have announced closure of several degree colleges and secondary schools on Thursday as a precautionary measure.