Kashmir students clash with Indian troops; many injured

The call for protests was given by J&K Students Union to protest against the security forces raid on a college in South Kashmir and beating of students and youth by security men. The injured students included girls as well and they were shifted to Pulwama Hospital.

A group of youths started shouting slogans and hurling stones at security forces near Degree College, Pulwama, this afternoon, a police official said. Police reacted by using force and chased them into the college.

"They damaged my bike, thrashed me severely with gun butts and wooden sticks and in an nearly unconscious state tied me to the front of the jeep and paraded me through 10 to 20 villages", Dar told The Wire. "Of them one is from Bagh-e-Dilawar Khan and two are from SP College".

Police sources have said the charges being considered against the Army include kidnapping and endangering Mr Dar's life.

Police said the first clash occurred after officers tried to stop hundreds of students from marching in the city's main commercial hub. Barring a few places places, police have used force nearly everywhere. "The injured were hit by pellets and teargas shells", the official reportedly told Greater Kashmir. "Then they upload these videos to Facebook", Ahmad added.

Injured students had to be transported to a hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment.

"In this incident some miscreants and police personnel were injured".

Four students were arrested by Baramulla police while protesting, police said. "In the resultant chaos some students received minor injuries and a lot of them were discharged after first aid", the statement said.

Government Forces used tear gas and batons to disperse the students, who kept regrouping to engage with the Government forces.

In neighbouring Sopore, students clashed with police, one reason being, they share the same premises with a wall in between. At least 100 students were reported injured. In Shopian, seven students were injured, according to eyewitnesses.

Reports said that students of Degree College Bemina here in Srinagar too resorted to stone pelting when they were not allowed to take out a peaceful march. In Hajin area of Bandipore, a mob of students allegedly attacked a police station with rocks and other missiles, officials said.

Just now, reports said students of Kashmir University have came out in a procession.

As the day progressed, the news of protests emerged from various colleges and universities across the state. "The clashes were going on outside and we were in the class thinking we are safe. The District Police administration has clarified that no raids were conducted and video being shared on social networking groups is not from Pulwama".

Kashmiri students clash with Indian government forces near a college in central Srinagar's Lal Chowk on April 17, 2017.

Last year, around 100 people died in clashes with security forces during the unrest caused by the death of terrorist Burhan Wani.