Widespread demonstrations in colleges and varsities of Kashmir Valley were held on Monday to protest against the police “excesses” at the Government Degree College, Pulwama, on Saturday, in which over 50 students were injured on the campus.
Scores of students tried to take out a march from Sri Pratap College, Srinagar, but was foiled by the police. Angry students clashed with the security forces and hurled rocks. Heavy teargas shelling failed to deter the students. At the time of filing of this report, clashes were on in the Sri Pratap College at Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of Srinagar.
Colleges in south Kashmir’s Shopian, Bijbehara and Khanabal, central Kashmir’s Ganderbal and north Kashmir’s Pattan and Sopore areas were also reported. There were reports of violent clashes too. Preliminary reports suggest that security forces is using PAVA shells, teargas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters. There are no reports of any injuries so far.
Kashmir University (KU) students also held demonstration on the campus where they raised pro-freedoms slogans.
Heavy deployments were made early in the morning near colleges in the Valley to contain these protests.
Over 50 students were injured on Saturday when students of the Government Degree College, Pulwama, clashed with the police, alleging they entered the campus to detain students. The police refuted the allegations saying their men were away from the college and came under heavy stone pelting.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has sought a report from the police over the incident.
