Students of various colleges and universities on Thursday held protests against the killing of militants and civilians in south Kashmir on April 1.
Educational institutions across Kashmir were closed following tension due to the killings of 15 militants and four civilians in Shopian and Anantnag in South Kashmir on April 1.
Dozens of students assembled at the Bemina Degree College in Srinagar and tried to take out a protest rally against the recent killings in south Kashmir districts.
Protests were held by the students of Amar Singh College at Wazir Bagh.
The students gathered on the campus and chanted slogans against the killings. They also tried to take out a protest rally but the police quickly swung into action.
In downtown Srinagar, students of Islamia College of Science and Commerce at Hawal also tried to take out a rally but the police foiled the attempt by lobbing teargas shells.
The students of Kashmir University also held a protest at the campus. Many students were holding placards protesting the killings. They also shouted pro-freedom slogans. Many female students also participated in the protests.
Protests were also held by the students of Central University campus at Nowgam on the outskirts of the city. There were reports of students holding funeral prayers for the slain militants and civilians. Funeral prayers were also held at Government Degree College, Sumbal, in Bandipore. The students also clashed with police. There were reports of stone pelting by the students also.
The police, however, didn't allow the students to continue their protests and chased them away using teargas.
The April 1 killings have cast a shadow on the tourist season in Kashmir that had begun on a good note after the opening of the tulip garden on March 25.
The worsening security situation in Kashmir, however, has lowered expectations of a good tourist season much to the dismay of the houseboat owners, hoteliers, and transporters.