Clashes erupt between Security Forces, students at Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST)

Security forces burst teargas shells on Wednesday to disperse students of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora in south Kashmir, protesting against detention of their mate. Scores of students from different departments took out a protest rally within the university campus to protest against the detention of Junaid Akhoon, who was pursuing diploma in Polytechnic College of the IUST.

The students alleged that security forces entered the university campus and burst teargas shells to disperse the peaceful protestors, including girls. The students later resorted to stone pelting and fought pitched battle with security forces within the campus. “We were holding peaceful protest against detention of Junaid. But, security forces came inside the campus and burst teargas shells on us,” the students alleged.

Questioning the security force action, they said they had held a similar peaceful protest within the university campus on Tuesday against the detention of Junaid without causing any law and order problem. Official sources said that Junaid was detained from his residence at Aarampora village in Awantipora for questioning about his brother, Salia Mohammad Akhoon, who is an active militant. Describing the arrest of Junaid unjustified and illegal, the students said he cannot be arrested for any wrong of his brother. They demanded immediate release of Junaid.