Students clash with police in Pulwama, Budgam

Srinagar/May,3: In South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, students staged a dharna demanding the release of their colleagues who have been arrested by police from past couple of days. Eye witness said that students protest after a naka party picked up two students of Mehjoor Memorial Higher Secondary from Chattpora area.
Witnesses added that a large number of students assembled outside police station Pulwama and raised pro-freedom slogans. They were demanding the release of their colleagues. “More than 14 students are in lockup and we demand their release. We will continue to protest and boycott class work till they are released,” said a student.
Reports said that agitated students attacked police station with stones while cops resorted to tear-smoke shelling to disperse them. The clashes between police and students continued for hours creating panic in the town.
Reports from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district said that students of Boys Higher Secondary School hit to roads and clashed with government forces. The students amid pro-freedom slogans resorted to stone-pelting. Reports said that police swung into action and arrested many students. Students alleged that government forces lobbed tear-gas shells inside the school while they also resorted to aerial firing. Police denied that they resorted to aerial firing. A police official said that students resorted to intense stone-pelting while to disperse them, few tear smoke shells were lobbed in the town.
In wake of massive clashes, authorities ordered the suspension of class work at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School on Thursday.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Budgam Inderjeet Sharma said: “The class work will remain suspended tomorrow at Government Boys Higher Secondary School Budgam.”