Parties condemn use of force against students in JK

The ruling PDP-BJP coalition and opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir today condemned the use of force against students in different colleges of the state and demanded stern action against those responsible for such acts.
Students across the valley boycotted classes and clashed with security forces to protest against the "highhandedness" of security forces at the degree college in Pulwama in south Kashmir on Saturday.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convened an emergency meeting to discuss the situation, a party spokesman said.
He said party general secretary Nizamudin Bhat and other office bearers condemned the police action and intrusion into the academic institution.

"The party has demanded immediate probe and stern action against the personnel involved in disturbing the peace of the college and use of force against students and the staff," the spokesman said.
The ruling party stated the resultant outrage among the students on the provocative incident was natural, but appealed the student community to maintain calm as "peace at educational institutions is paramount to our future."

Bhat said till a probe was not conducted and appropriate action not taken, it is desirable for the authorities to close the educational institutions in the Valley.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress also condemned the use of force by the police on students of various colleges.

Stating that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's government was "brutalising people under the garb of maintaining law and oder", J-K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief G A Mir termed the raining of shells on the students as a gift of the Chief Minister to people of Kashmir.
He said the present government has crossed all limits of brutalities.
"This is the height of brutalities and highhandedness on the part of the ruling dispensation led by Mehbooba, which is hell bent upon crushing the voice of people to satisfy its master RSS," Mir alleged.
"It is unfortunate that Mehbooba is not in a position to say anything on the harassment of innocent people, leading to alienation of common masses in the valley," he said.

CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami while condemning the use of force against students said the "present government has become reckless and is not ready to read the writing on the wall."
He said that further delay in the dialogue process would worsen the situation.