Students demanding the release of their fellow classmates clashed with government forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town on Thursday, witnesses said.

Hundreds of students of the Boys Higher Secondary school, Pulwama started their march demanding release of their classmates who were allegedly arrested yesterday, witnesses added.

However, the protesting students were intercepted by a large contingent of government forces triggering clashes.

Local sources said that forces used tear smoke shells on stone pelting students resulting in chaos in the whole town. Witnesses said that shopkeepers downed their shutters leading to complete shutdown in the area.

Meanwhile, District Administration on Thursday closed class work in government boy’s higher secondary school, Shopian in south Kashmir.

An official said that the step was taken keeping view the massive student protests in the town on Wednesday.

At least 8 students had suffered injuries in the day long clashes with government forces in the south Kashmir town.

Meanwhile, reports of clashes between students and forces continued to pur in on Thursday.

Witnesses said that the clashes erupted between the students and the forces at a few places after the students were disallowed by the forces to carry out their protest march in the areas.

Clashes erupted in Sopore area after the students of Degree College Sopore tried to carry out the protest march, which was disallowed by the forces.

Witnesses said during the clashes at General Bus Stand Sopore, at least four students were arrested by the police while one student sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, similar reports of clashes were reported from Langate area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Students of Sheikh-ul-Aalam Model Degree College Charar-e-Shareef including both boys and girls protested against the thrashing of Pulwama Degree College students on Apr 15.

The protesting students were raising pro-freedom slogans and were demanding action against the forces involved in the alleged thrashing of students at GDC Pulwama.

Meanwhile, a police official said that a smaller of group of students at a few educational institutes clashed with the police. However, he said that no injury was reported during the minor clashes.

Guest