Srinagar, June 27: In a bid to break student protests, the Jammu and Kashmir government Sunday ordered closure of all schools and colleges across the Valley for next two days.
While an official handout said the educational institutions were closed “on the request of parents as a precautionary measure,” sources said the move comes to break the student protests called by Hurriyat Conference (G) on Monday and Tuesday. The party had asked boys and girls students to protest on Monday and Tuesday respectively against the “continued civilian killings in Kashmir by the security forces.”
 “On the request of parents and as a precautionary measure, Director School Education, Kashmir and Director Colleges have ordered that all schools and colleges shall remain closed for two days in Kashmir Division on Monday 28th June and Tuesday 29th, 2010,” the official handout said.
 Sources said the government apprehended widespread protests in schools and colleges, especially those located in Srinagar and other towns of the Valley. “The measure was taken to avoid any law and order problem,” they said.

HURRIYAT’S CHECKMATE
 While the government ordered the closure of the educational institutions, the Hurriyat Conference (G) deferred the students’ protests.
 A Hurriyat spokesman quoting senior Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam Bhat said instead of June 28, boys shall stage protests on June 29 and girl students on June 30 instead of June 29.
 The Hurriyat Conference (G) has asked students to protest the presence of Indian troops in Kashmir and urged them to raise “Go India, Go back” slogans. It has asked school and college students to wear black bands.
 Meanwhile, the conglomerate has condemned the detention of leaders including Ayaz Akbar and Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai under the Public Safety Act.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST