Over 1200 students of the university were holding protests inside the campus demanding release of Muzammil Farooq Dar, who was allegedly arrested by police on Tuesday, official sources said.
The sources said the students turned violent to press for their demand when police stepped in to chase them away. There were no reports of anyone getting injured in the police action, the sources said.
While the students allege that Dar was arrested for leading a protest against Yoga day, the sources said the scholar of English was picked up for questioning in connection with a militancy-related case.
In a statement on the arrest, a spokesman of the University said authorities held several rounds of negotiations with the protesting students, urging them to call off the protests as the 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.
"The students, however, 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.