Violent protests rock Kashmir University; VC’s office attacked

Massive protests continued at Kashmir University Thursday with students attacking the administration building housing the Vice Chancellor’s office with stones, witnesses said.

The students were demanding the release of their university mate who was detained by police, allegedly for participating in anti-Yoga day protests.

However, police sources said that Muzamil Ahmad of the varsity’s English department was detained for alleged militant  links.

Eye-witnesses said the students engaged in massive stone pelting following which the police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the protesters.

While the students alleged that the authorities were not making efforts to release Ahmad, the public Relations Department of the varsity said that they held several rounds of negotiations with the protesting students, urging them to call off the protests.

“The call was made in the light of the fact that the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor had taken up the matter with the State Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police (Kashmir), seeking their intervention in the matter,” a spokesman said.

The students, he said, refused to call off the protests and without any provocation resorted to heavy stone pelting on the administration block and damaged the University property.

“The University security chose to exercise maximum restraint to safeguard the student interests,” he added.

The University, the spokesman said, has suspended class work in its Main Campus until June 27th 2015.