Srinagar: Protests demonstration demanding capital punishment for perpetrators of the horrific rape and murder of a minor in Kathua continued on Tuesday as well. Students, Traders and employees joined the ‘demand for justice’ campaign that has shook India since the charge sheet in the case became public which gave the spine chilling details of the whole incident and the conspiracy behind the horrendous crime.
In Srinagar Kashmir University, SP college Sgr, Polytechnic college and Islamia college of science and commerce erupted while in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district protests were held in Degree college Sopore and Degree college Baramulla. In Handwara students were joined by faculty members at Govt girls higher secondary school, Boys higher secondary school, Govt middle school. Government Higher Secondary School Nadihal in north Kashmiri’s Bandipora district too erupted.
Various traders bodies including Traders Association Maisuma and Traders Association Koker bazar were joined by employees of Anganwadi employees who took to city center Lal chowk demanding justice for the minor raped and murdered in Kathua.
Varsity students marched through the campus demanding capital punishment to the perpetrators of the ‘heinous crime’.
The students of SP College students marched from the college campus to Lal Chowk and returned to the campus through residency road.
Protests in Sopore by students of Degree college turned violent after police thwarted their march to come on roads. Clashes erupted and stone pelting followed. Police teargassed the college compound.
“Soon after news of clashes at degree college boys spread scores of students of Degree college women Sopore also protested and marched in support of boys college, where clashes were already going on. Shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans the girl students tried to march towards boys college but were stopped by forces deployed at Iqbal market who lobbed tear gas shells on students,” eye witnesses said.
Clashes resulted in disruption in business activities and traffic movement in town through out the day.
Following the clashes the examination of BG 3rd semester which was scheduled on Tuesday at 2.30 pm has been postponed in Degree college sopore, Principal Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad dar confirmed and said they will announce the next date for the same.
Classwork in Degree College Sopore was resumed after a week after the civilian killings in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Reportedly two students and a lady identified as Shahnaza bano of Neharpora sopore sustained minor injuries during the clashes.
In Handwara scores of female faculty members and students of various higher seconday schools marched from their respective institutions towards main town Handwara.
Feamle teachers held a candle light sit in at Main town handwara while holding placards saying, “Justice for little child’.
“We demand capital punishment for the guilty involved in the case, so that such incidents won’t surface again,” a protesting female teacher said.
“We are proud of the female advocate who is fighting the case of Asifa despite facing threats, we are proud of her,” another female protester said.
In Bandiporas cores of students of Government Higher Secondary School Nadihal held a demonstration in solidarity with the family of Kathua rape victim.
An eye witness said the school students assembled outside the school and held a protest while demanding justice for the eight-year-old Muslim nomadic girl.
(With inputs from Peerzada Waseem, Tasadduq Hussain, Nasir Khuehami)
