Clashes erupted between security forces and students in Degree College Handwara on Tuesday after the agitating students held a protest march against the troops for allegedly killing a student in a fake encounter last week.

Witnesses said that the students took a protest march outside the college campus and raised slogans against government forces.

“The students were demanding probe and punishment against erring army personnel who are involved in the killing of their colleague, Shahid Ahmad Mir,” witness said.

While trying to disperse the students, forces lobbed a number of tear smoke shells triggering chaos in the town.

The teachers and students alleged that the government forces also barged into the college premises and thrashed the teachers and students as well.

Witness said that a teacher of the college sustained an injury during the chaos and reportedly some female students fainted after government forces lobbed tear gas shells inside the campus.

Sources said that the injured were shifted to Sub District Hospital Handwara for the treatment.

Pertinently, a youth was killed in Hafrooda area of Handwara six days ago. The army had claimed that the slain youth was a militant. However, the family of the slain youth claimed that their son was innocent and he had gone missing from his home two days back. The slain youth was identified as Shahid Ahmad Mir of Daril Tarathpora Handwara.

The government then issued a No Objection Certificate in favour of the slain youth, claiming him to be a civilian.

“It is certified that Shahid Bashir Mir of Daril Payeen was not involved in any kind of subversive/criminal activities as per the available records of this Police Station,” the NOC issued by SHO Police Station Vilgam and signed by District Magistrate Kupwara reads.

The district administration had also filed an FIR against the army under section 302 CrPc.

Meanwhile, a delegation of teachers paid a visit to the Assistant District Commissioner’s office in Handwara to register the complaint before the officer against the government forces action on students.

Guest