Srinagar, April 17 (IANS): Widespread protests by students in the Kashmir Valley on Monday heightened tensions as dozens of students and policemen were injured in clashes. The students clashed with police in Srinagar, Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kupwara, Kulgam and Shopian districts. The students had called for protests against Saturday’s incident in Pulwama town in which over 50 students were injured in fighting with security forces after objecting to the setting up of a security post outside the college. Security forces had entered the Pulwama college on Saturday. Students of S.P. College in Srinagar blocked the Maulana Azad Road on Monday as police used tear smoke in a bid to clear it. The students resorted to massive stone pelting at the police, resulting in injuries to the Station House Officer of Kothibagh police station and two of his guards. Three students were also injured in the clashes. Police used dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse the students who kept regrouping to engage the police on the streets. Girls from a women’s college in Srinagar also joined the protests as police battled hard to bring the situation under control. Markets in neighbouring Residency Road and Lal Chowk areas closed as tension spread. Protests and clashes also erupted between students in Pulwama town despite the authorities having ordered the closure of the college there for two days following Saturday’s incident. Students also indulged in heavy stone pelting at the security forces in Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Dooru, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Tral and Bandipora towns. Protests took place inside the Kashmir University and the Central University here but these were peaceful. Reports said over three dozen students and two dozen security men were injured in Monday’s clashes in the Valley. Kashmir colleges, universities to remain shut on Tuesday Colleges, universities and other higher education institutes in Kashmir will remain closed on Tuesday following the unprecedented protests by students across the valley, authorities said. All examinations scheduled for Tuesday have also been postponed, an official said. Internet facilities were also suspended on Monday to prevent uploading of pictures from the protests by youths on the social media. Restrain security forces in Kashmir: CPI The CPI on Monday called for restraining the security forces from attacking civilians in Jammu and Kashmir to win the confidence of the people in the state, which has been rattled by a series of fresh clashes. A party statement expressed “a serious concern” over the “growing alienation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir” that it said was reflected in the lowest ever 7 per cent turnout of voters in the by-election to the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on April 12. “The anger and frustration reflected in the boycott of election by a large number of people,” the statement said. It said the state and central governments were trying to handle the Kashmir situation as a mere law and order problem which has “worsened the situation and alienated the people in a big way”.
