Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, July 17: Police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed teargas shells after a strong mob of local Degree College students turn violent and attacked Police Station, Budhal and also damaged about half a dozen police and civilians’ vehicles while at least five police men were injured in stoning during the clashes in the troubled town today.
The angry students also forced the closure of the entire market and held strong protest demonstration after a student of BA Part-I of the local Degree College was severely beaten up by a mini-bus driver and its conductor over the issue of concession in fare at around 9 am today. The student Mohd Mudassar, son of Mohd Bashir, resident of village Draman was coming to his college from the village. On the way, there was some tiff between the conductor -Manzoor Ahmed and the boy over the concession issue. Upon this, the driver- Arun Kumar stopped the vehicle and they all dragged the student out and started beating. Another local, Varinder Kumar an associate of driver also joined and they severely beat up the student resulting him injuries.
However, some passengers and locals came to the rescue of the boy and later shifted him to Budhal Hospital for treatment. As the news of beating of student reached the college, the students of all the classes boycotted studies and came out on the road. They started strong protest and forced the closure of the main market. They demanded arrest of driver, conductor and their associate and legal action against them.
Holding protest, they reached up to Police Station and started protest against them. The SHO, Haji Bashir and others tried to pacify and assured action but the boys turned violent and started damaging some mini-buses, police and civilian vehicles. They also started stone pelting on the Police Station and the policemen deployed. By that time Tehsildar Kotranka had also reached there.
Sensing more trouble the policemen resorted to lobbing teargas shells and mild lathi-charge to quell the violent mob. Some locals had also mixed up with the students. About half a dozen teargas shells were lobbed to disperse the mob and restore order in the area. At least five policemen were injured in stoning.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer told the Excelsior that driver and conductor besides their associate Varinder Kumar were arrested for beating student and denying student concession. He said an FIR was registered in this connection. He further said that despite assurance by Magistrate and SHO about arrest of the accused mini-bus operators, the boys and some locals attacked police station and cops and also caused damage to the public property.
He said that an FIR has also been registered against ten identified persons who indulged in attack on `Thana’ and damaging vehicles.
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