Eight held for vandalism during students’ protest in Sopore: Police

Sopore, Apr 14: Police on Tuesday said they have arrested eight persons and identified 25 others for vandalism during a student protest in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, asserting that strict action is being taken against those involved in disturbing public order.

The protest was held by students on Monday over an alleged harassment case involving a lecturer, which led to road blockades and stone-pelting at some places.

“Eight miscreants have been arrested and 25 others identified for their involvement in vandalism during the protest. The situation was brought under control after assurances of justice were given to the protesters,” a police official said.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) attached the accused lecturer, Ghulam Hassan Mir, a Senior Lecturer in Urdu at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Sopore, to BHSS Badugam in Gurez, Bandipora, pending an inquiry.

An official order stated that the Joint Director (North) has been appointed as the inquiry officer and directed to submit a report within 15 days.

Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore, Iftikhar Talib, said a case has been registered against the lecturer and an investigation initiated on the basis of the student’s complaint. (KNS)