Srinagar, Apr 05: Life returned to normal in most parts of Kashmir today, with school and colleges resuming classes after three days of shutdown and restrictions imposed by authorities in the wake of protests over the killings in Sunday’s encounters.
Business establishments, shops, schools and colleges opened in most parts of the Valley after remaining closed for three days due to a strike called by the separatists and the restrictions imposed by the authorities. However, the officials said some parts of Shopian district observed a shutdown and restrictions continued in Kulgam district as a “precautionary measure”.
The curbs were imposed to prevent protests against the killing of 13 militants in three encounters on Sunday and the death of four civilians in the aftermath of the encounters, the official said.
Three soldiers were also killed in the operations in Shopian and Anantnag districts of south Kashmir.
Separatists had called for a shutdown on Monday and Tuesday to protest against the killings while authorities ordered closure of educational institutions for three days as a precautionary measure.
There were, however, clashes in certain areas when groups of youth came out on the streets and threw stones on passing vehicles, and later clashed with the government forces.
According to reports, 10 protesters and a policeman were injured during clashes in Shirmal village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district today.
Reports said that youth took to streets in Shirmal area of Shopian and pelted stones on government forces, who responded by firing pellets and tear gas, resulting in injuries to 10 youth.
A policeman was also injured in the clashes. Doctors at Sub-District Hospital Shopian said that he had suffered an injury in his hand.
Stone-pelting protests also triggered shutdown in Tral area of Pulwama and Palhallan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In Tral town, youth pelted the forces’ vehicles with stones at Bus stand and Aabghar Chowk, triggering a shutdown. Shopkeepers lowered their shutters while traffic also disappeared from the roads.
In Palhallan area of Pattan, youth took to streets and staged protests. Shopkeepers, here too, downed their shutters after stone-pelting protests.
Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district also remained tense where a youth was killed on Tuesday. Public transport also remained off the roads in the area, while private vehicles were seen plying normally.
There were protests by the students in many city areas as well which created chaotic scenes and forced closure of shops and suspension of traffic in these areas.
Students take to streets, clash with govt forces
Photo/Javed Khan
Srinagar, Apr 05: As the authorities had decided to open schools and colleges Thursday after three days of closure, students of various colleges took to streets in the afternoon and clashed with the government forces.
At Nowgam campus of Central University of Kashmir, students offered funeral prayers in absentia for the slain civilians and militants while the students of Kashmir University also boycotted their classes and held protests against the killings. The students carrying placards against south Kashmir killings marched on the campus of the varsity.
The students of Islamia College in Hawal, Amar Singh College, Government Degree College Bemina and other colleges in the city held protest demonstrations while raising pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans.
However, police and paramilitary forces personnel deployed in strength tried to restrict students from taking out protest demonstrations, triggering clashes. The protesting students also set ablaze a police picket outside Srinagar’s Indoor Stadium in Gogji Bagh area and vandalised a number of properties before they were chased away by the police.
An eye witness said some protesting students reached near the stadium and set ablaze the picket. No policeman was present there when the incident took place.
Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesperson Rajesh Yadav confirmed the incident and said the picket which was torched by some angry protesters belonged to the police.
Two students were injured during clashes with the government forces outside Amar Singh College and were admitted to a hospital for treatment, reports said.
In Soura also, students took to the main road and blocked it by pelting stones on the passing vehicles. They also clashed with the government forces.
Clashes were also reported from Government Degree College Kupwara where students also held protests.
The class work remained suspended in these educational institutes owing to protests.
The authorities had on Wednesday decided to open all educational institutions across Kashmir except in Shopian and some other parts where they had apprehension of protests.
