Srinagar, Apr 24 : The protests by students have relented in Kashmir valley as only one incident of clashes were reported in Srinagar’s SP higher secondary school today, with the education minister reiterating his appeal to students to maintain peace and focus on their academics.
Talking to KNS, minister for education Syed Altaf Bukhari Monday said students in Kashmir attended their classes, barring a single incident of protests outside SP Higher secondary schools which erupted after a group of outsiders entered into the school through Chinar Bagh and provoked the students.
“All the colleges and higher secondary schools resumed their class work peacefully today while at Srinagar’s SP school some outsiders entered inside the school premises and provoked students to take to streets.”
Bukhari said the to prevent outsiders from entering into educational institutes, police and security forces will be deploy on the Bund side of SP college to keep eye on those who try to disrupt academic atmosphere in schools and colleges.
“We have taken a strong note of outsiders disrupting academic activities in educational institutes. These outsiders will be identified and action will be taken against them,” the minister said, adding the students must cooperate to nab these outsiders.
The minister appealed the students to bring their identity cards with them and help the authorities in identifying the miscreants who are sabotaging their education.
“I also appeal parents to cooperate with the government to help achieve academic excellence of their children,” he said.
Earlier, clashes erupted between SP Higher secondary students and forces on Monday on MA Road here Srinagar. Witnesses said that the students blocked the road following which the police disallowed their protest march which resulted in clashes. During the clashes, police used some tear gas canisters to disperse the protesting students who were pelting stone on them.
Official said that some cops and two photojournalists were injured due to stone pelting during clashes.
Police version on the incident:
Meanwhile, the police in a statement issued to KNS said that students were attending classes normally today in S P School and in Women’s College at M A Road Srinagar.
“However, just after the end of about an hour of class work, some miscreants from different places entered in the premises of school and created disturbances.
“The miscreant’s alongwith some students blocked MA road because of which hundreds of vehicles got stranded on this ever busy road and adjacent Chowks. The Police and security forces personnel reached the spot. They were pelted upon heavily due to which many police and security forces personnel were injured. The stone pelting created panic in the area after which many shopkeepers closed their shops. Some vehicles were damaged,” the statement reads.
Police said that the miscreants and the students pelted stones on Traffic Headquarters and attacked police vehicles with stones clubs and lathies. “The police showed utmost restraint. Twelve personnel including three officers were injured in the stone pelting. Some boys involved in stone pelting were caught on the spot and detained by Police,” they added.
“The mob was dispersed and the normalcy was restored in the area. The parents are requested to advise their wards not to indulge in stone pelting and other such activities which create disorder in the schools and on the roads,” police said, adding that “There was no aerial firing as was reported by some groups on social networking sites and web portals. This is factually incorrect.” (KNS)