November 15, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 9, 1423

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FAISALABAD, Nov 14: Sixteen people were injured when a rally of students and teachers was baton-charged outside the GC University here on Thursday.

The injured included nine passers-by.

According to details, the teachers and students of various institutions of the district held a rally outside the GC University at Dhobi Ghat under the auspices of the joint action committee. A heavy contingent of police was also present nearby.

The participants were protesting against the constitution of boards of governors for the public sector health and educational institutions. They were also chanting slogans against some other policies of the government.

Some protesters blocked Kotwali and Narwala roads for traffic by erecting barricades and burning used tyres. Policemen misbehaved with them and threatened with dire consequences in case they continued their protest. This provoked the participants who turned violent.

Some participants damaged a vehicle bearing green registration number plate parked along roadside. They also uprooted a number of signboards and pelted stones on the police.

They also smashed windowpanes of three wagons and a bus of the Faisalabad Urban Transport company. As a result, three women and two children were injured.

Within minutes, heavy contingents of police headed by SP (headquarters), DSP Gulberg, DSP Civil Lines and commandos of Elite Force reached the spot, encircled the protesters and started baton charge.

As a result, seven students and nine passes-by were injured.

The baton charge forced hundreds of stampeded students to take refuge in the varsity class rooms. Police teams entered the campus and opened fire in the air.

The police arrested over three dozen students from different rooms and sections of the varsity who were shifted to Gulberg police station.

The clerk on duty at Gulberg police station told this correspondent that a case would be registered against the arrested people in the light of the instructions of the high-ups.

Meanwhile, leaders of the joint action committee alleged that the government was attempting to create law and order situation in the province by using force against students and teachers.