Massive protests erupted at Kashmir University today with reports of students attacking the administration building with stones.
Reports suggest that the students have been 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 police links.
According to reports, students engaged in stone pelting followed by baton-charge by the police 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 spokesman also said, that te university decided to suspend classes in the Main Campus until June 27th 2015. The students have also initiated a Twitter campaign under the hashtag #FreeMuzamil in order to garner support from like minded student communities.