Sopore, Apr 15 — Police have arrested five more persons in connection with vandalism during a student protest in Sopore, taking the total detentions to 13 as action continued through night-long raids, officials said on Tuesday.
In a statement, police said those held were involved in damaging public property after a protest by students turned disruptive. “The miscreants had infiltrated a peaceful protest by students and created law & order disturbances, including acts of vandalism resulting in damage to public property. Sopore Police continue to take swift and targeted action against all those involved,” the statement said.
The protest broke out on Monday following allegations of harassment against a lecturer at Government Higher Secondary School Sopore. Students blocked roads in parts of the town, and incidents of stone-pelting were reported at some locations, officials said, adding that legal action has been initiated against those accused of disturbing public order.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has attached the accused lecturer, Ghulam Hassan Mir, to Boys Higher Secondary School Badugam in Gurez, Bandipora, pending an inquiry.
According to an official order, the Joint Director (North) has been appointed as inquiry officer and has been asked to submit findings within 15 days. Officials said the attachment requires the lecturer to report to the Gurez school during the inquiry period.