Clashes broke out between students and security forces in Baramulla and Shopian in Jammu-Kashmir on Thursday during protests over the Kathua rape and murder case.

Reports state that the protesting students came out in large numbers in the roads in Shopian town and Sopore, Boniyar and Delina towns of Baramulla district.

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Security forces were reportedly forced to use tear gas and smoke gas shells to disperse the protesters when they resorted to stone pelting.

Though reports indicated that over 10 protestors may have been hurt, the police said no one has been reported injured.

Similar protests had erupted on Wednesday in Anantnag district of the state over the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in January.

The protesters who were students have been demanding justice for the victim. A clash with security force personnel had reportedly left 15 students injured.

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Though protests over the Kathua incident have been on for the past few days, participation of students actively started since Monday. Even girls came out demanding justice for the victim.

Reports say that authorities today shut down several colleges and higher secondary schools in Kashmir to prevent the students from coming together for protests as a precautionary measure.

The districts affected are Srinagar, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag.

Two FIRs have been lodged in the Kathua rape-murder case. One FIR against the eight accused in the case while the second one has been lodged against the lawyer’s body, which allegedly tried to stop the police from filling a charge sheet against the accused.