Following protests by students across the Valley on Monday that led to clashes in several areas causing injuries to around 70 students, the authorities extended closure of colleges and universities for another day. Many areas in south Kashmir observed shutdown against the security forces action against students even as the youth wing of Opposition National Conference staged an anti-Government protest in capital Srinagar to denounce the recent civilian killings and alleged use of force against students.
Sources said scores of female hostel boarders of the Kashmir University staged a protest demonstration inside the campus against the treatment meted out to students across the Valley during protests. The student unrest began in Kashmir last weekend when security personnel allegedly thrashed dozens of students outside the campus of a degree college in south Kashmir’s Pulwama. The incident led to massive protests across the Valley when educational institutions re-opened on Monday.
Universities, colleges and higher secondary schools on Tuesday remained closed following the orders of the divisional administration in view of the widespread student protests. The step was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent further protests. The divisional administration extended the closure order to Wednesday.
Scores of students had been injured in Pulwama incident last Saturday. Monday’s clashes also left around 70 students including girls wounded, at least seven of them receiving critical injuries. Five police personnel were also injured.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students staged a protest by blocking the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway at Banihal town against alleged thrashing of students by paramilitary CRPF troopers in Chareel village.
Mobile internet service including 3G and 4G across Kashmir remained snapped since Monday afternoon as colleges and universities erupted in the Valley over the thrashing of students of Pulwama Degree College by the security forces last week. However, the broadband Internet and 2G services have been spared.