Kulgam: Over a dozen students, including four girls and a video journalist were wounded during clashes in South Kashmirs Kulgam district on Thursday. Two girl students fainted while a student with serious pellet injuries was referred to Srinagar for treatment.
Students of Degree College Kulgam alleged that police action was uncalled for as they were peacefully protesting inside the College premises.
Eyewitnesses said that government forces resorted to intense tear-gas shelling and showered pellets on the students. Medicos at District Hospital Kulgam said that 12 students including 5 girl students were brought in the hospital with pellet injuries.
They however said that two girl students Shaista Gul and Uzma Jan were also brought into hospital in unconscious state.
They said a student Amir Fayaz with multiple pellet injuries was referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for specialised treatment.
The other pellet hit persons have been identified as Arif Ahmed Mala son of Abdul Rashid, Adil Ahmed son of Muhammad Yousuf, Shahid Ahmed son of Manzoor Ahmed, Misbah Jan daughter of Ghulam Mohiuddin, Sartaj Ahmed son of Abdul Rashid, Irtiqa Banoo daughter of Farooq Ahmed, Sarweeda, daughter of Manzoor Ahmed, Tanvir Ahmed (Video journalist), Suriya Bano daughter of Abdul Rashid, Bilkeesa daughter Muhammad Amin and Ajaz Ahmed daughter of Ghulam Hussain.
When contacted, Principal Degree College Kulgam said that shortly after the episode, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam convened a meeting that was attended by top police and administrative officials.
Meanwhile, a police Constable was critically injured after hit by a stone in head at Awantipora area in southern part of Kashmirs Pulwama district last night.
The injured cop has been identified as Riyaz Ahmad.
Police officials said that the constable was hit by a stone on his head when miscreants pelted stones on police vehicle last night.
The injured police Constable was shifted to nearby hospital where from he was referred to SKIMS, Soura in critical conditions, they said adding he was battling for life at SKIMS.
Police said that the said constable was part of a police party which was returning from Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) site in Tral area.
Clashes erupt in Anantnag
Clashes broke out in Anantnag town after a police party allegedly roughed up some shopkeepers. The police action sparked spontaneous shutdown.
According to reports some shopkeepers at Dangarpora locality entered into an argument with some cops on parking issue while shopkeepers alleged that policemen from Sheerbagh police post thrashed them without any reason.
The thrashing incident sparked protest while shopkeepers downed their shutters and staged a protest against the police highhandedness. Eyewitnesses said that local students also joined in the protest demonstration. As the news about the incident spread, traders closed their business in the district.
Reports said that some protesters resorted to stone-pelting while police lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse them. Witnesses added that clashes spread in other parts of the town including Achabal Ada, Lal Chowk, Kotwal Gali, Reshi Bazar and Cheni Chowk. The clashes left many protesters wounded.
A police official denied that any shopkeeper was manhandled by them. He said that a request was made to a shopkeeper to park his vehicle in the parking lot, but instead of obliging, few shopkeepers raised hue and cry and tried to assault a policeman.
Police Version
A police official while refuting the allegations said that students of Degree College Kulgam resorted to intense stone-pelting without any provocation. The students targeted SP residence, MP Nazir Ahmed Laways residence and Court building. Police exercised restraint and fired some tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesting students.
(With inputs from CNS)
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