At least twenty persons, mostly students, were injured as protests over justice for minor Kathua girl turned violent in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Wednesday. The protests and clashes were also received from other districts of Jammu and Kashmir.Reports reaching GNS said students carrying banners assembled at KP Anantnag road and took out a protest march seeking justice for Asifa and capital punishment to all the accused in her rape and murder.The protests soon turned violent, resulting in clashes between forces and students. All shops and other business establishments in the town closed. Police used tear gas shells and baton charge, leading to injuries to fifteen students and five others including two policemen, they said, adding that among the injured students are two girls.A senior doctor at district hospital Anantnag told GNS they received fifteen injured students and one of them has been shifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment. The condition of all the injured is stable, he added.Reports said that two other girl students were provided first aid by locals.Meanwhile, class work in all educational institutions remained suspended in wake of the intense clashes in the town.Reports of protests and minor clashes were also received from Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora.
Similar reports were received from Azad Gung Baramulla, Kulgam, Pulwama and Bihama Ganderbal where students of degree colleges and other educational institutions registered their protest.Seven students, one pedestrian and a policeman suffered injuries during clashes in Pulwama. They were hospitalised and their condition is said to be stable.Peaceful protests were also held at Kashmir University Hazratbal, Srinagar, Lal Nagar Chanapora, Nowshera Soura, ITI Tral, Arin Bandipora, Degree College Bandipora, Degree College Tral, Higher Secondary School Shalimar, Boys Higher Secondary School Barzulluah, B Ed College Srinagar, Degree College Uri, Higher Secondary School Uri, Middle school Sumbal, Higher Secondary School Sumbal, Islamia College Hawal, Srinagar, Higher Secondary School Hadipora, Kakpora Degree College Bohipora Kupwara, Higher Secondary School Ganderbal, Womens College Nowpora Sopore, Higher Secondary School Wathoora, Higher Secondary School Dangiwachi , Boys Higher Secondary Pampore and Girls Higher Secondary School Ganderbal.Protests demanding justice to the eight-year-old girl and severe punishment to the accused in her rape and murder were also received in Poonch, Rajouri, Banihal, Doda and other parts of the Jammu region.
Police Speaks
Today morning a peaceful protest was taken out at Anantnag which was allowed by police and district administration, a police spokesman in a statement issued here said."Subsequently some miscreants indulged in stone pelting & turned violent and tried to enforce forceful shutdown in Anantnag town. In the said incident 2 police personnel and 2 miscreants received injuries when they were hit by stones. All of them are stated to be stable, the spokesman said.In another incident at Pulwama, while Municipal Committee Pulwama was busy in the anti-encroachment drive, the demolition drive was pelted upon to disrupt the process. Police party reached to the spot and subsequently dispersed the miscreants. No injuries were reported in this incident.In Awantipora miscreants tried to block the main road but due to the timely intervention of local police, the situation was handled and no street vandalism could take place. It is clarified that situation has been brought under control in all these locations, the spokesman said.We request citizens not to fall prey to any speculations and rumours which are intended to disturb the peace. And we seek their cooperation for maintaining order, the spokesman added. (GNS)