Journalists demand justice for Kathua victim
Students clash with forces at several places
PHOTO/Javed Khan
Srinagar, April 18: Protests against rape and murder of minor Kathua girl continued to rock Kashmir valley on Wednesday with people demanding death penalty to the accused.
Valley based scribes from different media outlets today held symbolic protest against incident and demanded capital punishment to the accused.
Carrying banners and placards which read “no politics no communalism only punishment and justice for Kathua victim,” dozens of media person’s including correspondents, video and photo journalists this afternoon assembled at Press Enclave and held protest against what they termed ‘inhuman and barbaric’ act.
They said that the issue must be looked with the prism of humanity and not politics and communalism.
Earlier massive clashes broke out between students and security forces at Degree College Bemina here after the later tried to take out a protest rally in support of Kathua rape and murder victim.
Police lobbed dozens of tear smoke shells and used water canons to disperse the agitating students who however offered stiff resistance and engaged police in stone pelting.
Several students including some girls have been reportedly injured in the incident.
Traders Union Red Cross Road also took to the roads amid pro freedom and pro militant slogans demanding justice to the Kathua rape and murder victim.
The protesting traders gathered at press Enclave here staged protest against the crime which claimed the life of a minor.
“There should be no punishment less than death the penalty for the accused who not only ashamed the humanity but created a sense of fear among defenseless females,” they added.
Students from various schools and colleges also hit streets to condemn the brutal rape and murder of eight years old Kathua girl.
Students from Sri Pratap College and Law College Nowshehra amid anti India slogans marched towards city centre Lal Chowk against brutality meted out to the minor.
“We only demand capital punishment to all the accused. This is a human issue and would be really a testing time for the state government, we hope Chief Minister will play mother’s role in doing justice with Asifa Banoo,” said Amreen Mushtaq of Law College.
SP college students who took out a rally from their college to Lal Chowk also demanded death penalty to the accused for tarnishing chastity of an innocent minor.
Students of Gandhi College also staged demonstrations demanding justice for the victim.
