Srinagar, Apr 27: The vice chancellor of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Prof Mushtaq Siddique on Thursday accused the government forces of resorting to unprovoked use of force against the students.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, he Prof Siddique said normal class work was going on in all the departments when some gun shots fired outside the campus triggered panic following which students rushed to learn about the situation.
“By that time Police had reached the spot and resorted to unprovoked use of tear gas shelling,” he said, adding that some shells landed inside the campus.
He said army also fired few aerial shots but didn’t enter inside the campus.
“There were no protests or any law and order situation created by students but J&K police lobbed tear gas shells which disturbed the normal class work in the varsity,” the VC IUST said.
Expressing displeasure over “unprovoked” use of force on students, Prof Siddique said he will take up matter with higher ups.
“I believe there should be no eye to contact between students and security forces,” he said.
The police however said the students hurled rocks at the army soldiers who were fixing telephone lines outside the varsity. The army men, an official said, fired few rounds in the air to chase away the stone-throwing youth.
A varsity official refuted the allegations. Meanwhile, the students of the IUST staged a peaceful protest demonstration against the high-handedness of the police and paramilitary forces.
The protesting students complained that forces fired several tear gas shells inside the campus, which caused suffocation to students mostly girls.
“Some gun shots were heard outside the campus, by which class work was suspended, and in no time police and army man tried to cover the area for search operation outside the campus,” said Khalid (name changed) one of the students in IUST.
He said police personnel barged into the campus and lobbed several tear smoke shells on administrative block as well on academic block-I.
