Most of the educational institutes, including Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), colleges and some higher secondary schools, remained closed for the second successive day in the valley as a precautionary measure on Thursday. The decision to suspend classes in these educational institutes comes against the backdrop of the death of a youth, injured during clashes at Pattan in Baramulla. Arshad Ahmad Dar was critically injured on Monday during clashes which broke out against the rape of a three-year-old girl in Sumbal area of Bandipora.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) on Wednesday took suo-motu cognisance in the rape case of a three-year-old girl in Bandipora and directed Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, to file a status report by Friday. Official sources said that authorities have ordered suspension of classes in all colleges and Higher Secondary Schools (HSSs) in Srinagar as a precautionary measure on Thursday.
"Colleges in Budgam, Ganderbal in central; Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora, Kupwara in north Kashmir have also been closed," they said. They said Higher Secondary Schools (HSSs) in some towns in the valley remained closed for the second day on Thursday as a precautionary measure.
On Wednesday, the classes in these educational institutes were suspended following massive clashes and protestors by students in the valley against rape of the minor girl on May 8 in north Kashmir district of Bandipora. Students of Amar Singh College on Tuesday clashed with security forces, demanding capital punishment for the rape accused.
Similar protests and clashes were reported from some other HSSs and colleges in the valley during the last couple of days. Meanwhile, classes remained suspended for the third successive day in IUST, where students protested against the rape of the minor on Monday.
Over a dozen people, including Dar, were injured during clashes and protests which erupted on Monday across the valley against the rape. "And indulging in acts of vandalism is in no way helping the cause of justice for the little girl. Using her rape as an excuse to damage property & indulge in violence is most unfortunate," former J&K chief minister and National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah tweeted while reacting to the violent clashes.
Governor Satya Pal Malik and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan later on Monday appealed people to maintain peace, brotherhood and law & order, assuring that the inquiry of Sumbal rape incident is being conducted on fast track basis.
Police have already constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the rape of the minor girl which took place on May 8 in Sumbal, Bandipora.
