The students continued protests across the Valley against the rape and murder of 8-year-old nomad girl in Kathua despite higher secondary schools and colleges remaining closed.
The students took to roads in Ajas, Mantrigam, and Sumbal areas in Bandipora district to stage protest against the rape and murder of minor girl.
The students of High School Mantrigam marched to Bandipora town amidst pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. The protestors clashed with policemen near DC office, who fired tear smoke shells to disperse them. At least four students sustained minor injuries while the cops also detained several students. However, the detained students were later released.
The students of High Secondary School Ajas also clashed with the cops in the Ajas town. The youth pelted stones on the cops, who in retaliation fired tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge. Four students, a police officer and a policeman sustained minor injuries in the clashes.
Witnesses said DySP Sumbal Sheikh Tahir and police constable Danish sustained injuries after being hit by stones.
In Sumbal, students from Green Land Higher Secondary staged protests to demand justice for the minor girl.
The students of many schools and higher secondary schools of Baramulla district also staged protest against the brutal rape and murder of eight year old minor girl.
Large number of students of Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore assembled at Iqbal Market Sopore and took out a peaceful protest rally in the town. The protesting students were seeking justice for the minor girl and capital punishment for culprits.
Holding placards with slogans like “Hang the Culprits”, “Justice to Asifa’” the protesting students raised anti government, anti-BJP, anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. They demanded capital punishment for the culprits involved in this heinous crime.
The clashes broke out between protesting students and cops during which a civilian Bashir Ahmad Baba son of Ghulam Mohi ud din Baba of Chinkipora Sopore was injured.
Block Medical Officer Sopore Dr. Sami told Kashmir Post that one person with skull injury was brought to the hospital this morning.
“The initial reports suggest that he was hit in head by a stone. The injured has been referred to SKIMS Soura Srinagar for advanced treatment,” BMO Sopore said.
At Delina Baramulla, scores of students of Higher Secondary School Delina held a protest rally and tried to block the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway.
At Rohama Rafiabad, students of Higher Secondary School marched through the market and demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits. The students later disperse off peacefully.
Students from Government Higher Secondary School Boniyar also held a protest demonstration.
The complete shutdown was observed at Dangiwacha, Rafiabad in Baramulla district against the thrashing of girl students by army on Wednesday. All the business establishments, schools remained closed while traffic off the roads.
Meanwhile, at least 14 students and few shopkeepers were injured in clashes that erupted during a protest rally against Kathua rape incident, in main town Shopian today.
The students of several private coaching centers had assembled near Gol Chowk and clashes erupted after police tried to disperse them.
The students’ hoisted Pakistani flag on a lamp post during clashes. The clashes also led to spontaneous shutdown in the main town Shopian.
“At 14 people, mostly students, were brought to hospital with pellet injuries. The injured include two girl students also. We referred two injured to Srinagar for specialized treatment”, said a medico at Sub District Hospital Shopian.
Meanwhile, former Pakistani team skipper Shahid Afridi Thursday asked the Kashmiri youth to “continue their education in every circumstance” and study at home if the education institutions continue to remain shut.
In an exclusive conversation with Kashmir Post over phone from Karachi (Pakistan), Afridi said, “My message to Kashmiri youth is to make judicious use of time. Study at home if the schools are shut. Education is very and very important for you, for all.”
Afridi said he doesn’t know about the current situation, but “students can study at home if the situation is really not conducive.”
This reporter contacted the cricketer talked to him on a Whttsapp call.
For those who are into cricketing career, Afridi said, “if situation is not favourable for playing cricket in Kashmir, then I don’t have words to say anything.”
Asked about any plans to visit Kashmir to meet the youth who admire him, Afridi said that, “ “In Sha Allah plan banega…jab waqt hoga… bilkul aayenge…Chakar lagayenge. (In Sha Allah there will be a plan, I will come. I will surely come one day to Kashmir.”
“First Kashmir issue will have to be resolved. You people are struggling hard for freedom. Once Kashmir gets freedom, I will love to come there.”
Afridi said the present situation is not good in Kashmir. “Once everything turns normal. Kashmir issue will be solved. We will come definitely,” he said.
About any plans to extend Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) operations in Kashmir, he said, “In future, we will definitely start working in Kashmir as well. We work for humanity. But as of now our focus is on my nearby areas of my native place where people need more assistance. We are working in these areas presently.”
