Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Apr 21: Protests and clashes broke out in Kashmir after Friday prayers against recent police action on students even as Government today called for “proactive measures” to deal with untoward incidents in educational institutes and “counseling of students” on regular basis.
All the Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools in Valley remained closed as a “precautionary measure” on the Government order. According to the Divisional Administration Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, the teaching work in all the Colleges of the Kashmir division shall remain suspended tomorrow (April 22, Saturday) as a “precautionary measure.
Hundreds of students this morning took to streets in Sumbal and Bandipora areas of North Kashmir and staged anti-Government protests over the recent highhandedness of police against students in Pulwama Degree College and elsewhere. As soon as Friday prayers were over, dozens of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leaders and activists took out a protest rally from Maisuma here in summer capital in solidarity with student community of the region. The protesters were shouting slogans against the State authorities and when they tried to march towards Budshah, the police personnel additionally deployed at Maisuma, stopped them.
There was brief scuffle between protesters and police and in order to disperse them, the latter fired teargas shells and stun grenades. The protesters in retaliation pelted stones on cops, ensuing clashes in the area, which continued for nearly half-an-hour, affecting business and transport activities. The situation in the area later returned to normal.
Authorities in downtown city had deployed contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to scuttle protests and clashes after Friday prayers. However nearly a dozen Hurriyat activists staged a protest outside Jama Masjid in Nowhatta against recent police action. Later some youths pelted stones on security forces who, however, were dispersed by the latter instantly.
Although day passed off peacefully in Old City, but youth resorted to stone-pelting on security forces in the evening at Saraf Kadal and Nowhatta. Police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters. In the day, Hurriyat activists staged a protest in Hyderpora area on city outskirts against the police action. The protest concluded peacefully.
Clashes broke out at Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla and Hajin, Sumbal and Main town of Bandipora districts today after Friday prayers. Police responded by firing teargas canisters. The South Kashmir areas also witnessed clashes against the police action on students. Police said youth pelted stones on security forces at Goriwan in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district and also in Pulwama town after staging protests. The protesters were dispersed with teargas shelling. No one was reported injured.
Meanwhile, authorities today disallowed Hurriyat Conference factions’ chairmen, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani from offering Friday prayers and both of them were placed under house arrest. Many other separatists were also detained. District Administration Pulwama, in a statement, said that the classwork in Boys Degree College, from where the protests originated, shall remain suspended tomorrow on April 22.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a meeting to review functioning of Educational Institutions in the Valley, an official spokesman said. Additional Commissioner Kash-mir, Deputy Commissioner Sri-nagar, Director Higher Education, Director School Education, De-puty Director Planning, Principals of Educational Institutes and concerned officials attended the meeting, while as Deputy Comm-issioners of other Valley districts participated in the meeting through video conferencing, he said.
On the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Principals “to adopt proactive approach in dealing with any untoward incidents on campuses and focus on ensuring peaceful atmosphere at their institutions”. He further directed them to “involve faculty members for counseling the students on regular basis”. He also asked them to not allow any outsider into their respective institute premises. The Divisional Commi-ssioner “also directed the Deputy Commissioners to prepare categorization of all Educational Institutions in the valley and constitute an inspection squad to maintain sanctity of all educational Institutes.”
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