Shopian/Baramulla/Agencies: Scores of people on Thursday evening staged candlelight protest at Trenz village of Shopian district in solidarity with a minor rape victim from Kathua.
The protesters carrying banners and placards with victim’s pictures demanded justice for her.
Aamir Ahmad, one of the protestors, while shock over the brutal incident said that the candle light protests are also being held in other parts of Shopian.
“We demand justice to eight year old victim and demand that the culprits should be hanged,” he added.
Protesters carried banners which read: “Justice for rape victim, Black day for humanity, Killers must be punished, Hang Rapist.”
Earlier in the day students clashed with forces in the main market of Shopian. Sources said that several students besides two photojournalists sustained injuries.
Two students received pellet injuries in eyes and were referred from SDH Shopian to Srinagar, reports said.
Meanwhile, student protests continued in Baramulla and Sopore towns in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district while as Dangiwacha Rafiabad observed shutdown against police action against protesting girl students.
In Baramulla, students of Higher Secondary School Delina staged protest demonstration against the Kathua rape and murder.
Shouting victim and anti BJP slogans, the protesting students demanded strict action against accused.
Witnesses said protesting female students blocked Baramulla-Srinagar highway and disrupted traffic. However, as the police contingent reached the spot, the protesting students dispersed peacefully.
In neighbouring town Sopore students of Girls Higher Secondary Sopore staged strong protests against the Kathua rape and murder case. The students dispersed peacefully at Iqbal Market Sopore.
Meanwhile, shutdown was observed at Dangiwacha Rafiabad after police allegedly used fore against girl students protesting for justice to Kathua victim.
In Uri, students of Higher Secondary School Boniyar took out a protest rally and blocked Srinagar-Muzzafar highway. They, however, latter dispersed peacefully.
It is pertinent to mention here that authorities on Thursday shut down several colleges and higher secondary schools in Kashmir to thwart student protests demanding justice for the eight-year-old victim of Kathua rape and murder case.
Colleges and higher secondary schools were closed for class-work in Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian and Ganderbal districts while several such institutions were closed in other six districts of the Valley, officials said.
They said the decision to suspend academic work in the educational institutions was taken as a precautionary measure in view of yesterday’s widespread protests in support of demand for justice for the victim of the horrific rape and murder case in Kathua district of the state in January this year.
