Srinagar, May 14 : There was not let up in protests in Kashmir Valley despite a slew of stringent measures, including the closure of various colleges by the government. Several students and people held demonstrations over the Sumbal rape case and sought stern action against the guilty.
Reports reaching said students of Women’s College Maulana Azad Road here came out of their classes and assembled in the campus. Later they marched towards the Press Enclave here, demanding stern action against the guilty.
Students also took out protest marches at Degree College at Bemina and Amar Singh College in Gogji Bagh areas here, they said.
The students at Amar Singh College clashed with government forces near Tigore hall and Gunikhan. The students dispersed momentarily and again clashed with the government forces and the clashes remained confined to near the campus, they said.
Protests were also reported from Kashmir University in Hazratbal area of the city where hundreds of students of different departments assembled inside the campus to register their protest against the gruesome incident, they said.
Groups of students, lawyers and various NGOs also held protests at the Press Enclave here, demanding exemplary punishment to the accused.
Reports said around 60 inhabitants of village Chaterhama and Suthsoo blocked the road at Suthsoo.
They said some “miscreants” damaged a vehicle sumo and beaten the driver of the vehicle namely Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh of Dangerpora suthsoo.
Reports said that during the intervening night of May 12 and 13 unknown persons tried to set ablaze Saddi memorial English medium public school Bon Zanigam Beerwah due to which minor damage occurred to the office of school.
Reports said that students hailing from Kargil started protest at Press colony Srinagar against rape incident and demanded stern action against the guilty.
Reports said that students of Degree College Kangan Ganderbal district also took to streets and staged a protest demonstration, demanding justice to the minor girl.
The state police have already constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the rape case and one person has been arrested.
The protesting students demanded stern action against the accused, the officials said, adding later, the protestors marched towards the Press Enclave here.
Apprehending law and order problems, several educational institutions were closed by respective district authorities across the valley on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
In Baramulla district, all schools in tehsil Pattan and Singhpora were shut, while Degree College and higher secondary schools in Baramulla and Sopore towns also remained closed, they said.
All government educational institutions including schools and colleges of tehsil Sonawari in Bandipora district also remained closed while Government Degree College Ganderbal, government girls and boys higher secondary schools in Ganderbal town were also closed, they said.
Class work also remained suspended at Government Degree Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools in Anantnag and Bijbhera towns of district Anantnag, they said.
The authorities also ordered suspension of class work in Government Degree College Shopian and in Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), the officials said.
Governor Satya Pal Malik and Advisor Vijay Kumar have already directed the special investigation team to complete the investigation on fast track basis so that the culprit is brought to justice.
He directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and IG Police to personally monitor the investigation.
A separate inquiry has also been ordered to check the veracity of the age of the accused and ascertain the veracity of the age certificate issued. (GNS)
