Student protests against a police crackdown on Degree College Pulwama on April 15 are refusing to die down despite the call from the Kashmir University Students’ Union (KUSU) asking students to resume their classes.
Student protests and subsequent clashes erupted in different parts of Kashmir triggering shutdown in Pulwama, Bandipora, Chadoora and Shopian. Sensing trouble, authorities had already ordered closure of Kothibagh Higher Secondary School, SP and MP Higher Secondary Schools.
Reports from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district said that, a large number of students of Degree College Pulwama pelted stones on police vehicles that were passing through the road, however, police exercised maximum restraint and didn’t retaliate.
Shortly after the incident, hundreds of students who boycotted the classes assembled in the college premises and chanted pro-freedom slogans. To stop students from hitting to roads, College administration locked the gates and tried to persuade students not to march towards the main market. However, reports said that students left college premises and as they marched outside the college, police used tear gas to chase them inside. The students retaliated by pelting stones, triggering chaos in the town. The clashes disrupted normal life in the town.
Pic By Shah Jehangir
Witnesses said that at least 6 students were injured during the violent clashes.
Clashes erupted in south Kashmir’s Shopian town also after students of Government Boys Higher Secondary school took to streets and staged anti-India protests. Witnesses said that police used tear gas to stop students from marching in the streets. The students retaliated by hurling stones, triggering shutdown in the area. Shopkeepers lowered their shutters and bystanders took refuge inside. Reports said that at least 10 students were injured during the clashes with government forces.
The students were protesting against a police crackdown on their peers at Government Degree College Pulwama on April 15, which left over 50 students injured.
In South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, scores of students of Degree College after boycotting class work hit to roads and took out a march amid pro-freedom slogans. Police according to eyewitnesses didn’t retaliate, however, some students pelted stones when the march reached near Ghantaghar bus stand. Several pedestrians were wounded due to stone-pelting.
Reports from North Kashmir’s Bandipora district said that a large number of students of Nadim Memorial Higher Secondary school (NMHSS) in Kaloosa locality staged protests, triggering shutdown in the main town. Witnesses said that students took out a protest march from NMHSS towards the main market where they pelted stones on shops and vehicles. The incident sparked shutdown in the town. The protesting students, who were raising pro-freedom slogans, marched through the main market and assembled at Gulshan chowk.
Eyewitnesses told CNS that a large number of students of Government Boys Higher Secondary School Shalimar in Srinagar hit to roads and staged a massive anti-India protest. Police chased them, who regrouped and pelted stones. In a bid to disperse them government forces fired tear-smoke shells. The clashes between students and police continued for hours in the area, disrupting traffic and normal business.
Pic By Shah Jehangir
Girl students from Higher Secondary Soura Srinagar too hit to roads and organized a peaceful protest. The students raised pro-Burhan and pro-freedom slogans.
In Chadoora tehsil of central Kashmir’s Budgam district students as well as some youth resorted to stone-pelting as a result shopkeepers downed their shutters. Reports said that area observed shutdown due to clashes between youth and government forces.