Central University students threaten to intensify protest over fellows’ arrest

Srinagar, Nov 12: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) students on Monday threatened to intensify protests over the arrest of their fellows.

The students held a protest at the Press Enclave here, demanding immediate release of the two students arrested last week for their alleged militant links.

The students–Suheel Ahmad Dar and Mohammad Ismail Ganaie–are doing masters in politic and governance.

Adil Fayaz, one of the protesting students, said, “We are going to expand our protest programme throughout the valley if the serious notice of the issue is not taken.”

He said the protest programmes will be carried out from the higher secondary level to all the three universities in the valley.

“We are in contact with our friends and colleagues in different universities and colleges. The wave of the protest will reach to the nook and corner of the state and it will be difficult for authorities to control the movement,” Adil said.

Mir Talib, classmate of the detainees, told The Kashmir Monitor, “Both the students were regular and dedicated towards their academic work.”

Mir said they were living in the rented accommodation in the vicinity of the university.

“We used to play in the varsity campus after our classes in the evening.”

Another student of the varsity, Shafqat Mohammad, said, “The charges against both of them are baseless. Being regular students, how can they be involved in the militancy-related activity?”

Students of the varsity have boycotted their classwork till their release.

Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) Srinagar, Imtiyaz Ismail Parry, told this reporter talk to Inspector General of police, SP Pani for the comments.

However Pani too refused to comment.

Earlier SSP Srinagar was quoted by a local news agency that the duo was arrested “for their involvement in militancy related activities”.
“An FIR was registered against them eight hours before they were arrested. They were involved in militancy-related activities,” the news agency quoted the SSP.