Achabal, Shangus observe shutdown, demand colleges for their areas
Anantnag: A complete shutdown was on Thursday observed in Achabal and Shangus areas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district to mark a protest against the administration for failing to establish colleges in their areas.
All the shops and business establishments remained closed in these areas while as the traffic was also thin on the roads.
In Achabal, locals blocked the main Achabal road and staged protest against authorities for not fulfilling their long pending demand of establishing a Degree College in the area.
The protestors were chanting slogans against the government decision of establishing college at Verinag, Chattisinghpora and Siligam/Ashmuqam. They also raised slogans like ‘we want justice and we want college’.
“We have been neglected by successive governments on all developmental fronts but we were hopeful of getting college in the area as promised by politicians of all parties as well as concerned officials but the area has been neglected again,” said a protestor, adding that there will be no benefit of establishing new colleges to Achabal area as all the sanctioned places are very far from the area.
Auqaf Committee Achabal, President Ghulam Mohammad Mir said that “we have staged protest and are observing shutdown only because our genuine demand of established college at Achabal is being neglected by the authorities.”
He requested concerned authorities to check the problems of local students which they are facing and relook into the SAC decision.
In Shangus area also, the residents protested against the SAC decision and ignoring their area.
Scores of people including women and students took part in the protest and demanded Degree College in the area. They threatened that they will continue their protest in case their demands of establishing college will not be fulfilled.
They alleged that three months back the government had approved a Degree College in Shangas but unfortunately two days before SAC changed the location from Shangus to Chattisingpora.
They requested concerned authorities to look into the matter and establish a Degree College in the area.
Jahangeer Ganaie
