Srinagar, Apr 19 (KNS): The student protests continued for the third fourth consecutive day on Thursday during which the protesting students also clashed with the forces at scores of people, leaving scores of students as well as two photojournalists injured at different places.
Clashes erupted between students and forces in Jamia Market of South Kashmir’s Shopian district during which scores of people including two photojournalists’ sustained injuries.
The students according to the witnesses carried out a protest rally in Shopian to protest against the Kathua rape and murder incident. They said that during the protest, students pelted stone on forces who in retaliation used tear gas canisters to disperse them, triggering clashes in the area.
According to the KNS correspondent, Aijaz Rasheed, scores of people including two photojournalists and four girl students sustained injuries.
“Two among the injured were shifted to Srinagar hospital for further treatment,” reports said.
The two photojournalists who were injured during the clashes were identified as Ajaz Dar from Zee News and Firdous Lone from 4tv.
Notably, authorities had ordered closure of Degree College and Higher Secondary Schools in district Shopian as precautionary measure.
Meanwhile a senior police official from Shopian district wishing anonymity said that the clashes took place in the district today while as the situation was brought under control. “Situation is Shopian is peaceful and under control,” he told KNS over phone.
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla and Bandipora district, clashes erupted between students and forces in Delina and Ajas areas of the two districts respectively during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating students.
Reports said that the students of Government Higher Secondary School Delina took to streets and blocked Srinagar-Baramulla highway to mark a protest against the Kathua incident.
The blockage on the raod also resulted in traffic mess in the area following which police tried to disperse the youth who pelted stone on them, triggering clashes in the area.
Notably, the district administration had ordered suspension of class work in all boys and girls colleges and higher secondary schools of the town except Delina higher secondary school.
In Ajas area of Bandipora, clashes broke out between students and forces after the students carried out a rally against the Kathua incident.
Reports said that scores of people including a cop sustained injuries during the clashes in the area.
The students earlier boycotted their classes and held protest and demanded capital punishment to the culprits.
In Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, clashes broke out at main chowk after the students pelted stone on forces.
Reports said that the forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the aggrieved students of different colleges.
A top police official said that barring few incidents of stone pelting, the situation across the Valley remained under control.
He also said that police exercised maximum restraint while chasing the protesters at a few places today. (KNS)