Students protest continues across Kashmir valley against Kathua rape and murder case of little girl Asifa in several district and town. In Sopore student of Jamia Kadeem High School took out a protest march against the brutal rape and murder of Kuthua minor. Reports said that protesting students assembled near Jamia Kadeem shouting anti-governmental slogans and marched towards Bus stand demanding punishment for the accused. Reports said that as soon as students reached near Bus Stand Sopore, the deployed forces did not allow them to move ahead, ensuing in clashes.
However, the situation soon turned normal after the forces dispersed the protesting students. In Pampore, the Students of Government Degree College both male and female staged a strong protest demonstration and raised slogans against the culprits of the Kathua rape and murder took out a protest rally in the saffron town. Reports said that students including girl students of Government of Government Degree College Pampore staged a strong protest at Khrew Chowk.
Later, the students dispersed peacefully after college management reached the spot. Meanwhile, the Students of Government Boys Higher Secondary School Kangan of central Kashmir Ganderbal district hold a peaceful protest at main Market Kangan to demand justice for the eight-year-old Kathua girl who was raped and murdered. The students marched from the school to the main Market Kangan and staged for some time without disturbing traffic movement in the area.
The students were demanding strict action against the culprits involving in the Kathua rape and murder case. “We want an exemplary punishment to the culprits so that no one in future dares to commit such a heinous crime,” said the protesting students. In Lalchowk area of Anantnag clashes between protesting students and government forces. According to reports students from multiple institutions assembled at main town, Islamabad shouting anti-government slogans demanded justice for Kathua victim.
During the incident, one student identified as Wamiq Aijaz was injured in the clashes and was shifted to district hospital; the protests were going was when this report was filed. In Pulwama Clashes broke out in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district between youth and the government forces. Reports said that the youth pelted a survey team of the army with stones in Murran area of Pulwama which led to the clashes after forces resorted to tear gas smoke shelling. In Shopian Army resorted to aerial firing to disperse youth at Pinjura in south Kashmir’s Shopian district after their vehicle came under heavy stone pelting. Reports said that youth hurled rocks at the army vehicle in the village. In retaliation, army men fired in the air to chase away the protesters.
In Bandipora students of the Govt High School Malpora Saderkoot also staged a massive protest demanding justice for eight-year-old Kathua rape and murder victim. Reports said that the protesting students were seen holding placards in their hands, depicting different messages calling for justice in the case of Kathua rape and murder case. Meanwhile, Students of Govt Girls High School Ajas in the same district also took out a protest march in solidarity with Kathua victim.
Witness said the Students took out a protest march raising slogans against the rapists. They demanded that the culprits of the heinous crime be hanged till death besides demanded a fair investigation into the case. Raising different slogans, the protesting students demanded stern punishment to culprits to the extent that in future no one dares to do such a shameful act. Meanwhile Clashes between students and government forces in Government Boys Degree College Khanbal. Sources said that students assembled in college premises and started shouting anti-government slogans while demanding justice for Kathua rape victim.
They said that some students pelted stones on government forces deployed near the college and in retaliation forces enter into the college premises, triggering clashes. They added police fired tear gas smoke shells to disperse the protesting students. However through Government direction about the closure of the College, the Students of Government Degree College Pampore managed to reach the College in large numbers only to stage a protest against the Kathua rape and murder. The College management later pacified the Students who dispersed peacefully. The Students both male and female staged a strong protest demonstration and raised slogans against the culprits of the Kathua rape and murder took out a protest rally in the saffron town.
Eye witness said that students including girl students of Government of Government Degree College Pampore staged a strong protest at Khrew Chowk. An eight year old Kathua girl was raped and murdered in Rasana village of Jammu’s Kathua District in the month of January. Later, the students dispersed peacefully after college management reached the spot. Pertinently, District administrations had suspended class work in Higher Secondary Institutions and Colleges in the District Pulwama including Pampore, Tral, and Pulwama.