Dozens of students of Government Islamic college in Srinagar clashed with security forces after they were stopped from taking out a protest against the police action of AMU and Jamia students.
Witnesses and reports said dozens of students took out a protest arch against the new Citizenship Act which grants citizenship rights to non-Muslims who have come from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before 2014 but conveniently leaves out Muslims.
Witnesses said students were raising slogans against the Delhi police action on students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslims University when forces stopped the march.
“Forces fires teargas shells and pellets to disperse the students who were protesting peacefully,” witnesses said.
In the ensuing melee, two journalists, Azaan Javid, of The Print, and Anees Zargar, a freelancer, were manhandled by the forces.
Police officials refused to comment on the issue.
“We were recording the video as police were detaining three students. Perhaps, our action irked the cops and they started thrashing us without any justification. My phone was also snatched by the police without any reason,” Azaan told a local news agency.
Meanwhile, most people in Kashmir remained unconcerned to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and subsequent protests against it across the country and police action on students of Jamia and Aligrah universities.
Meanwhile, government has nominated six liaison officers in different parts of the country for the students of J&K.
Majority political leaders, including three former Chief Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, besides former ministers and legislators are under detention since August 5, when centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A, besides divided the state into two Union Territories (UTs). There is no political activity in the Kashmir valley. However, BJP leaders are holding meetings and rallies in the valley under unprecedented security arrangements.
There was peace in the Kashmir University (KU), mainly because no classes are being held since August 5, a university official who do not want to be named told UNI this afternoon.
He said only teaching and ministerial staff are attending the university. However, he said, some students do come to campus only to get some guidance or clarification from professors. The university has already announced winter vacation from next week, he said.
However, in the nearby Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hazratbal, students are attending their classes after the institute reopens again. The atmosphere there too was peaceful. The IIT was closed and outside students asked to leave before the special status of the state was withdrawn.
Similar situation was witnessed in other universities in the valley, where fresh classes have been started after conducting examinations.
All educational institutions upto Higher Secondary Schools (HSS) are closed on account of winter vacation till February 22. Students of educational institutions boycotted their classes in the valley since August 5. However, 10th and 12 class examinations were conducted peacefully. Majority private schools gave question papers to students who later solved them in their homes before submitting again to schools.
The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora in Pulwama district students attended their classes normally.
The parents of students who are studying in Aligrah and Jamia besides other universities and professional colleges in the country are worried about their wards. We are keeping in touch with our children after every half an hour because of the situation developing in the country after anti CAA protests, said the parents. Thanks that landlines and postpaid mobile phones are working and we are able to remain in touch with each other, they said and demanded restoration of internet service.
To redress the grievances of students studying in outside the UT, government has nominated six liaison officers in various states. The students can contact these liaison officer in case of any difficult or distress.
Officials said that these liaison officers are in constant with the local administration, college and university administration and the state government to reach out the students of J&K. However, they said the students are advised to use the social media cautiously and refrain from any such activity which can disturb peace and harmony. They are also advised not to pay any heed to rumours.