Student protests rock Kashmir; schools, colleges closed
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 5: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, today visited the family of a Kangan youth killed during clashes and admitted that there has been excessive use of force and assured action against those responsible.
Mehbooba said initial reports indicated that excessive force was used and assured the family that action will be taken against those responsible.
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She reached the house of Gowher Ahmad Rather at around 9 am and spent half an hour with the family, amid the heightened tension in the town over the killing. She consoled the family and ensured them that justice will be done in the case.
The father of the slain youth said that he has little expectations from the probe ordered by the Government. “She (Mehbooba) came here to express condolences. And they (authorities) also carry out such visits for photo-ops. We have put forth three demands before the CM and we will get to know by the end of today if she acts,” said the father of slain youth. The family, among other demands, has asked the Chief Minister to dismiss the accused cop from service.
It may be mentioned here that Police have suspended a cop, accused by the family of shooting at Gowher, and started a probe into the incident.
She was accompanied by MLC, Yasir Reshi; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan; IGP Kashmir zone, S P Pani; Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Piyush Singla; SSP Ganderbal, Fayaz Ahmad Lone and other senior officers.
Soon after her visit, people including women came out and protested and demanded stern action against those responsible for the killing of Gouhar. However, police exercised restrain.
In the meantime, students in several parts of Kashmir today protested against Sunday’s killings in South Kashmir.
The clashes erupted as normalcy returned to most parts of the Valley following four days of shutdown and protests against killings in Shopian, Anantnag and Kangan.
However, normal life remained crippled in South Kashmir districts of Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam and Kokernag area of Anantnag.
As the schools re-opened for the first time this week in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Anantnag and Budgam districts, students took to roads at several places and staged massive protests against the killings.
Students of Kashmir University (KU) also staged a protest demonstration at the varsity campus in Hazratbal here. Students from various departments assembled and marched in University campus.
Students of Amar Singh College, Women’s college, Degree College Bemina, Islamia College Hawal and Central University Kashmir Nowgam Srinagar also took to streets and staged protests.
The students of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) held a peaceful protest at the Nowgam campus to condemn the killings and express solidarity with their families.
At Gogjibagh, the students of Amar Singh College took to streets and staged protests. Police and para-military forces chased the students soon after the students came out of the campus and started raising slogans against the recent killings in Kashmir. They clashed with the security forces by hurling stone at them. Some protesting students set afire a security forces bunker near the Indore stadium outside AS College.
The students at SP School tried to come out on the MA Road but were pushed back by police. The students pelted stones on police, sparking off clashes. During the clashes, few students were detained.
Scores of girl students of Women’s College protested and threw stones at Police. However, police showed utmost restrain but later in the evening when boys joined them and pelted stones at Police, they were chased away.
Students of Degree College, Kupwara and Handwara in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district also took out a rally and pelted stones at security forces. Police retaliated by chasing them and used tear smoke shells to disperse them.
Meanwhile, reports of clashes were also received from Palhallan, Sumbal, Dialgam Anantnag, Gagrin and Shirmal in Shopian. In these clashes, 15 persons including students received minor injuries.
And Police today filed an FIR against two facebook pages for spreading rumours regarding death of student in Handwara area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
A case under FIR number 18/2018 u/s 505 IT Act was filed in connection with the rumors on social media.
And in the meantime, authorities today decided to impose the restrictions in Srinagar parts including old city on Friday as a precautionary measure. “There shall be complete restrictions within the territorial jurisdictions of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj and partially in Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations of the district on April 6. The restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident”, he said
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan this evening in Srinagar in the backdrop of students’ protests in parts of Valley.
The officials said that class work in all schools and colleges in Baramulla, Srinagar, Handwara, Ganderbal and in all district of South Kashmir will remain suspended on Friday.
In the meantime, separatists called for protests against the recent killing on Friday. “We urged people across the State to stage peaceful protests across Jammu and Kashmir on April 6 after Friday prayers against the recent killings in Shopian and Kangan”, the statement issued here said.
The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), a conglomerate of trade and Transport unions, has called for strike in Kashmir tomorrow against the killings.
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