Student protests continue unabated, many more injured in clashes

Srinagar/May,15:  Several students and cops including three officers were wounded in clashes between government forces and students in Kashmir capital Srinagar on Monday.Government has announced suspension of class work at Government Degree College and Government Boys Higher Secondary School Magam.In wake of ongoing student protests in different parts of Kashmir Valley, authorities had already declared closure of SP Higher Secondary School here in Srinagar, however, a according to reports the the students of SP College clashed with the government forces inside the college campus.
Students tried to hit to roads, an attempt foiled by police. Amid pro-freedom slogans,  the students resorted to massive stone-pelting while government forces lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse them.
Witnesses said  the intense clashes left many students wounded while three police officers including SP East Sheikh Faisal Qayoom, SHO Kothibagh Rashid Ahmed and SHO Kralkhud, Suhail Ahmed sustained injuries. SHO Kralkhud according to reports sustained head injuries after a stone hit him. He was shifted to nearby hospital for treatment. Several photo Journalists were also injured during these clashes.
The clashes intensified as the day passed, triggering partial shutdown in the city centre. Reports said that due to clashes majority of the shopkeepers downed their shutters while vehicular movement was also disrupted on the roads. The protesting students according to reports entered into Government College for Women and pelted stones on government forces from there.
Students protest also reported from Sarafkadal area of old Srinagar city. However, according to reports police didn’t retaliate while students after registering protest dispersed peacefully.
Reports from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district said that intense clashes erupted between students and government forces in Magam town on Monday afternoon.
Reports said that the students of Government Higher Secondary School Magam staged a protest inside the school premises in which pro-freedom slogans were raised. Forces used tear gas to disperse the protesting students after they tried to march into the streets, triggering clashes.
Following the clashes, shopkeepers downed their shutters while traffic movement got affected on Srinagar-Gulmarg highway, they said.
Hospital sources said that a cop and few students sustained injuries during these clashes.
MEANWHILE Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, has said that class work will remain suspended at Government Degree College Magam and Boys Higher Secondary School Magam on May 16, 2017.