IUST students hit streets, several colleges, HSS remain closed in Kashmir
Srinagar, Apr 18: Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse students of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, who boycotted their classes and protested against the rape and murder of eight-year-old girl at Kathua in January this year.
Meanwhile, class work in a number of Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) and High Secondary Schools (HSSs) remained suspended as a precautionary measure to avoid any law and order problem.
Students of the IUST, Awantipora, in Pulwama district boycotted their classes and protested within the campus on Wednesday. However, when the students, including girls, started marching towards the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, security forces and police personnel immediately swung into action and stopped them from moving ahead. However, students, raising slogans and demanding death penalty to those responsible for the inhuman act, security forces resorted to lathicharge which had no impact on the students who pelted stones. Later security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators at the campus.
The University authorities suspended the class work and directed students to return home. The situation was now very tense but under control, official sources said.
Meanwhile, class work remained suspended in Amar Singh College (ASC), Srinagar, GDC and HSS Kangan in Ganderbal and GDC and HSS boys in Sopore in Baramulla district as precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem.