Tehran, Jan 12: Iranian police dispersed students chanting “radical” slogans during a Saturday gathering in Tehran to honour the 176 people killed when an Ukrainian airliner was mistakenly shot down, Fars news agency reported.
News agency correspondents said hundreds of students gathered early in the evening at Amir Kabir University, in downtown Tehran, to pay respects to those killed in the air disaster. The tribute later turned into an angry demonstration.
The students chanted slogans denouncing "liars" and demanded the resignation and prosecution of those responsible for downing the plane and allegedly covering up the accidental action.
Iran said Saturday that the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 was “unintentionally” shot down on Wednesday shortly after taking off from Tehran's main airport. All 176 people on board died, mostly Iranians and Canadians, many of whom were students.
Fars, which is close to conservatives, said the protesting students chanted “destructive” and “radical” slogans. The news agency said some of the students tore down posters of Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed on January 3 in a US drone strike on Baghdad.
Fars published pictures of demonstrators gathered around a ring of candles during the tribute and a picture of a torn poster bearing the image of a smiling Soleimani. It said that police "dispersed" them as they left the university and blocked streets, causing a traffic jam.
In an extremely unusual move, state television mentioned the protest, reporting that the students shouted "anti-regime" slogans.
A video purportedly of the protest circulated online showing police firing tear gas at protesters and a man getting up after apparently being hit in the leg by a projectile. It was not possible to verify the location of the video, or when it was filmed.
Iran's acknowledgement on Saturday that the plane had been shot down in error came after officials had for days categorically denied Western claims that it had been struck by a missile. The aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards accepted full responsibility.
But Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said the missile operator acted independently, shooting down the Boeing 737 after mistaking it for a "cruise missile".
Comments
Dear Shobha Karandlaje. This victim is a Beary. So kindly don’t include his name in your prolonged list of slain Hindu karyakarthas.
No anna the killers of RAO are BJP workers (minority sect) but BJP moved...this killer is a paid hitman,
Lesson for All Rowdy if we play with other life one day our life will end .. like tiz..
THAQDHEER BANA NE WALA KAM NAHEEN ! JIS KO KYA MILA WO MUQADDAR KI BAAT HAI
Cops wanted him dead.
That’s why he got bail.
Anyway this is a cleanup drive.
So many cases against him, really a big threat to the mangalore. Good Decision by police department :P
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un,
Notorious rowdy died a dog’s death!
This may be the preplanned murder, big question is how he can get bail so soon.
No He was gang leader of Target Group.
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, how can he get bail so soon, need to question our Constituency?
out of contest! in mangalore no ending of murder?
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, May allah grant him Jannah
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, dear brothers this s eye opener incident to all, pls leave peacefully.
is this same guy who killed Deepak Rao?
Youth dont understand the situation in mangalore. for every start thr will be a bad ending.
he recieved what he wanted.
Really sad but he was really a threat to the society.
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
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