No letup in protests, students continue to come out on streets
There seems to be no escape for the government as the students from Government High and Middle schools have joined the protests, against the thrashing of students by forces in Government Degree College Pulwama, last week.
Even after the closure of Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools on Friday, the students from Government High Schools and Middle Schools in north Kashmir’ Bandipora district staged a protest demonstration in the town, triggering shutdown in the area.
The situation has put the government in a tight spot which has extended the suspension of teaching work in all colleges on Saturday.
Besides students from High Schools, the middle school students also staged protests in Bandipora district against the forces action on students in Pulwama Degree College.
The protests prompted the education authorities in Bandipora district to suspend the class work of all educational institutions at various places as a move to control the law and order situation.
Post suspension of class work in the schools, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora convened a meeting with all the school heads to review the ongoing situation in the area, sources said.
They said the meeting was convened to chalk out a strategy to convince the students to end the protests and attend their classes properly.
“The meeting was attended by district police officials as well who sought cooperation from school heads to restore normalcy in the district,” the sources said.
Earlier students from Government High School (GHS) Bagh, Bandipora town held a protest demonstration triggering shutdown in the town.
Eyewitnesses said students of Aloosa High school also staged protest against thrashing of Pulwama College students and blocked Bandipora-Sopore road.
Also, Government Middle School (GMS) students in Sumbal and Ajas also held a protest against thrashing of Pulwama College students last week.
“The students blocked Bandipora-Srinagar road near Ajas and later dispersed off peacefully,” eyewitnesses said.
Meanwhile, the authorities have extended the suspension of class work in Colleges for Saturday.
Pertinently, all colleges have already been closed since Monday while as HSS schools remained shut on Friday as ordered by the divisional administration in Kashmir.
“Teaching work in all Colleges of the Kashmir Division shall remain suspended on April 22, 2017 as a precautionary measure,” reads an order issued by Divisional Administration, Kashmir.
KV Correspondent
