Curfew in Kargil

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, AUG. 21. Curfew was imposed in Kargil town today after police failed to disperse a group of students who had gathered at the venue where the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, was scheduled to address a public meeting.

Reports said a few hundred students from the town staged a demonstration against the district administration's decision to shift a school to another location. When the demand for a bus service to the new location was turned down by the Chief Minister, a violent demonstration ensued.

Police resorted to heavy lathicharge and burst tear smoke shells when the students set on fire the dais from which Dr. Abdullah and his Ministers, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar, Dr. Mustafa Kamal and Mr. Qamar Ali Akhoon, were to address.

Many students were injured and admitted to a hospital. The condition of three of them is said to be critical. A number of students were taken into custody and beaten up, a student leader told The Hindu over phone from Kargil.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Now, it is simple spoken Sanskrit
Next     : 'Basmati battle won'