Protests held in IHK against thrashing of students

Highway in Banihal blocked; shutdown in Pulwama, Tral

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of students on Tuesday staged demonstrations in Banihal area of Jammu region and blocked the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, in Indian Held Kashmir to protest against the use of brute force on students by Indian troops in a nearby Chareel village.

According to Kashmir Media Service, students from various schools and colleges descended on the highway and marched towards Banihal town and blocked the highway. The students were demanding action against Central Reserve Police Force personnel who thrashed and beat students in Chareel village, five kilometres away from Banihal.

The students said that the troops who were travelling from Kashmir to Jammu subjected the students to physical torture without any reason. Indian police resorted to baton charge against the protesting students Tuesday.

The incident comes a day after dozens of students suffered injuries in forces' action during clashes in various parts of the Kashmir Valley against an assault on students at Government Degree College Pulwama by Indian troops, last week.

Meanwhile, life remains crippled in Pulwama and Tral towns of south Kashmir Tuesday due to continued shutdown against the thrashing of students by Indian troops in Indian Held Kashmir, According to Kashmir Media Service. All shops and other commercial establishments were closed while transport was off the road.

Over 50 students were injured in Indian forces' action at the college on Saturday, triggering massive student protests across the occupied territory. Some of the critically injured students have been identified as Iqra, Basit Khurshid and Umar Majid. These students were injured during protests against the raid on Pulwama College.

On the other hand, in view of widespread protests, the puppet regime ordered the closure of all universities, colleges and higher secondary schools in the Kashmir Valley. The Kashmir University also postponed its exams, which were scheduled today. "All Kashmir University examinations scheduled to be held on April 18, 2017 (Tuesday) are postponed. Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later," a KU spokesman said in a statement.