Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 19: About 14 students were injured when security forces resorted to lathicharge and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators, at two places in Kashmir valley, who were protesting against rape and brutal murder of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu region. However, as the student protests refuse to die down in the valley over the Kathua incident, Works Minister and state government spokesperson on Thursday said there is no reason for these protests as the case is already solved and accused have been arrested.
Despite suspension of class work in Government Degree College (GDC) and Higher Secondary Schools (HSSs) in Shopian, students coming out of coaching centres, hit the streets at main chowk and demanded death penalty to all those involved in the crime. However, the security forces and state police personnel deployed in the area immediately swung into action after the demonstrators disrupted traffic movement. Security forces resorted to repeated lathicharge after the demonstrators refused to disperse, official sources said. Later security forces burst teargas shells to chase away the demonstrators, who were pelting stones. About 10 youth were injured in the clashes. Business and traffic movement came to halt in the town though efforts are being made to restore normalcy in the town, they said. About two pupils were injured during clashes with security forces which erupted after scores of students boycotted their classes and held a protest rally at Ajas in north Kashmir district of Bandipora, demanding death penalty to the culprits. Similar, clashes were reported in Chadoora in central Kashmir district of Budgam, where two students were injured.
Meanwhile, scores of specially-abled persons on Thursday held a protest rally in north Kashmir district of Kupwara against the incident. Protests were held in other parts of the valley, including in the summer capital, Srinagar. |
