Pulwama, Kulgam shuts against use of force on students

Srinagar/ April, 17: A spontaneous shutdown was observed in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday. The town had witnessed violent clashes on Saturday between Government Forces and Degree College Students in which over 50 students had suffered injuries. Meanwhile authorities have announced closure of Higher Secondary school and Degree College Shopian along with other colleges across valle. While All Jammu & Kashmir University continued protests across Kashmir,the state cabinet during a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti asked government forces to exercise restraint in tackling with the protesters.
All shops and business establishments remained closed while transport remained off the roads. Life also remained paralyzed in Kulgam district of south Kashmir due to a spontaneous shutdown against the forces’ action on protesting students at Degree College Kulgam.
Dozens of students were injured after forces fired teargas shells inside the college on Monday. Eye witness said all shops and other business establishments remained closed in the town and other areas. Public transport also remained off the roads.
Meanwhile, Universities, colleges and higher secondary schools remained closed across Kashmir on the orders of the divisional administration in view of the widespread student protests in the valley.
The universities, colleges and classes XI and XII remained closed Tuesday following orders to this effect issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan on Monday.
Meanwhile a large number of female students staged a massive protest inside Kashmir University against the use of force on students. The female students from University hostels assembled in front of Iqbal Libarary and amid pro-freedom slogans denounced the attacks on the students. The protesting students demanded stern action against CRPF personnel responsible for injuries of a girl student Iqra Sidiq from Nawakadal College.
Meanwhile,the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the closure of all Degree Colleges and SP Higher Secondary School (HSS) Srinagar today . A top official in divisional administration said the all colleges and SP HSS Srinagar will remain closed tomorrow as well. “All other schools, except SP School will remain open tomorrow,” the official said.
According to the District Magistrate Shopian, all Higher Secondary Schools of the district and Degree Collage Shopian  shall remain closed on April 19 in order to maintain law and order situation.
The students of the college are informed that no class work shall be held on the said date.
Class-work in Kashmir University campuses shall remain suspended on April 19 (Wednesday), but all examinations will be held as per schedule.
MeanwhileAll Jammu and Kashmir students union continued it’s protest on Tuesday as per already given statement by union.
AJKSU Tuesday held peaceful protests in many places ,we held peaceful protest at Kashmir University (KU) under the leadership of Asif Wani and we also held peaceful protest at Banihal and many other places as well.
AJKSU is continuously holding peaceful protests against the security forces high-handedness against the students of GDC Pulwama in which more that 50 students got injured .
AJKSU is going to held peaceful protests in coming days as well until the genuine demands of students are not fulfilled. We ask authorities why they shut all educational institutions in valley for a day ,is this the answer of any problem we ask authorities unless and until you(Authorities) will not redress the genuine demands of students AJKSU will continue holding peaceful protests.
The State Cabinet which met here Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti expressed deep anguish over the loss of precious lives in the Kashmir valley during the prevailing law and order situation. The Cabinet made a fervent appeal to all shades of political opinion to help restore peace and normalcy in the valley.
Cabinet while reviewing the security and law and order situation in the State directed the Police and security agencies to exercise maximum restraint while handling Law and Order situations to prevent loss of human lives.
The Cabinet urged the civil society and parents to counsel the youth to stay away from violent protests which, in spite of maximum restraint, can at times lead to fatal consequences.
Cabinet also directed the State administration to take all required measures to tackle the situation effectively and at the same time ensure that the general public is not put to any inconvenience and their grievances are addressed.