Srinagar: Intense pro-freedom protests erupted on Monday when armed forces lay siege around government run Degree College in Shopian.
Eye witnesses said that as soon as normal class work resumed, the armed forces personnel marched in and out of the college premises.
“It created furore amongst the students who came out of the classes and started protests,” an eye witness who identified himself by his last name Malik said.
“The students resented the huge presence of armed forces around the college campus,” he added.
The headquarters of IRP 18th battalion are situated next to college.
“It is routine that the armed forces from the camp take out patrols in the area,” a local said.
The male students were joined by the girls who continued peaceful protests as the college main entrance was locked.
Early in the day, the students of government run Higher Secondary School Shopian clashed with the armed forces.
“Clashes erupted as students resorted to stone pelting and forces retaliated with tear gas shelling,” a youth in his early twenties said.
“But the calm was restored and the class work started in the 10+2 level educational institution,” he added without revealing his identification.
“There is no presence of any armed personnel inside the campus,” an official of the college said. “Yes, the students are holding protests which are still going on.”
On June 06, a college going youth was killed in armed forces action in Ganowpora area of the district which resulted in four-day lockdown in the district.
Adil Farooq Magray, 19, was killed when people disrupted a cordon and search operation in his native village thus helping a militant to escape unhurt.
