Agitation hits educational activities in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, Aug 21 : The on-going agitation over the Amarnath land row has badly hit educational activities in the Kashmir Valley.

College students in Srinagar complained that their studies have been badly hurt owing to the ongoing agitation.

Students said that they were the worst hit as the frequent protests, shutdown calls and curfew ahead of their annual examinations in the months of November-December have taken a toll on their studies.

"We have had these shutdowns ever since the shrine land row started. And there have been no sessions in the college, the teaching staff doesn't come, no transportation and the main issue as of now is that our exams are approaching and our syllabus is not over as yet," said Rafeeq Ahmad, a student.

Students are worried about their studies and they feel that these protests will cast a shadow over their future.

Many said that while they are filling forms for the forthcoming exams, they are not sure whether they would be able to cover the syllabus.

"Protesters used to shout slogans on the streets. Protests and agitations are staged everywhere. We have been suffering for the past one and a half months. Our studies have suffered a lot," said Tajamul, another student.

Worried about their performance in the exams because of disruption in their studies, the students wish normalcy to return to their region soon.

The crisis began after the State Government's order, allotting 100 acres of forestland to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, which was opposed to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Hurriyat.

The Government then rescinded its decision, which in turn angered people in theammu region who have been protesting for the past 50 days for restoration of the land to the shrine. This has snowballed into full-scale protests and disrupted normal life in Jammu and Kashmir for nearly two months now.

ANI