Govt’s iron hand backfires, no let up in student protests

Srinagar, Apr 23: The government decision to shut coaching centres hardly had any impact on the ongoing wave of student protests as several schools and colleges of the valley Monday witnessed massive protests in favour of the eight year old girl raped and murdered in Kathua in January.
In south, Government Boys Degree college Anantnag became the epicentre of clashes and protests when students and policemen engaged in pitched battles within the college campus.
Dozens of tear gas shells and stun grenades were lobbed in the campus even as hundreds of students kept on pelting stones at the forces initially were outside the college gate.
Students kept on pelting stones forcing the police and paramilitary to enter into the college premises and lathicharging the protesting students.
A student and a staff member received injuries during the clashes, however their condition was stable as per the college sources.
In the north of the valley, students of Jamia Kadeem High School Sopore took out a protest march against the rape and murder of Kathua minor.
Reports said that protesting students assembled near Jamia Kadeem shouting anti-governmental slogans and marched towards Bus stand demanding punishment for the accused.
Local 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 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.
The Students of Government Boys Higher Secondary School Kangan of central Kashmir Ganderbal district too held 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.
Four policemen among ten students injured in Ganderbal Clashes which broke on Monday after students of Degree College Ganderbal boycotted their classes and staged a protest march outside the college premises against the Kathua rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl.
Sources said amid pro-freedom and anti-India sloganeering the students came out of the college gate and blocked Ganderbal-Shalbugh road outside the college.
They said that government forces foiled the students protest triggering clashes in the area.
Protesting students pelted stones on the government forces who retaliated with counter stones pelting resulting the injuries of four policemen including ten students.
The protesting students were demanding justice for eight-year-old girl and punishment for culprits.
The students of the Govt High School Malpora Saderkoot area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Monday 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.
The protesting students said that aim of holding the protest was to draw attention towards the violence against women all over the world.
Meanwhile, Students of Govt Girls High School Ajas in the same district also took out a protest march in solidarity with Kathua victim.
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.
Reports said that Students of Jamia Qadeem Sopore also took out a protest march from Iqbal Market toward General Bus Stand Sopore.
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.
However later in the area minor clashes reported between protesting students and forces.
Meanwhile a protest rally also took out at Palhallan area of Baramulla district by Higher Secondary students and demanded strict action against accused and justice for 08 year Kautha minor girl.
Students peaceful protest rally also held in north Kashmir’s Hajin.
Eye witnesses said that scores of students at Hajin Schools staged a massive protest rally in the area against Kathua girl, shouted slogans against BJP and demanded strict action against accused.
Students at Baramulla too protested against Kathua rape and murder case of little girl.
Reports said students at Boys Higher Secondary School Baramulla tried to come out on roads and shouted slogans in solidarity with the eight-year-old nomadic girl, however forces deployed in the area stopped then resulted in clashes in the area.