Protests, clashes, road blockade against student thrashing in Banihal

Banihal/ April, 17: Para-military Central Reserve Police Force Tuesday thrashed and manhandled scores of students in Banihal town after they tried to hit roads against the beating of students in Kashmir Valley.
Eyewitnesses said hundreds of students from Banihal town of Ramban district expressed solidarity with Kashmiri students and staged a protest. The protesting students while denouncing the use of force against the Kashmiri students demanded action against men in uniform responsible for the act.
Witnesses added that deployed CRPF pounced upon peaceful students and thrashed them to pulp. “We were not only thrashed but abused as well. CRPF men treated us like cattle and swirled their guns and lathis in a frightful manner,” said a group of students.
The action of troopers forced students to block traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway near Banihal. The protesting students while condemning CRPF behavior demanded action against them. The students were joined by the general public who also criticized the highhandedness of CRPF men. Reports said that after six hours, administrative and police officials were able to pacify the protesting students and public and accordingly traffic was restored.
Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party leaders who lost the previous assembly elections in the Banihal constituency took to social media to vent his anger. He wrote: “I strongly condemn the attitude exhibited by the CRPF followed by thrashing, beating and abusing of students in Banihal town Tuesday morning. The mishandling (of situation) by the troopers in this sensitive town resulted in a massive protest on NHW Banihal by the students and the general public. Keeping in view the situation across the Jawahar Tunnel, the forces should behave in a reasonable way and should not provide any chance to fringe elements to exploit the situation.”