VIOLENCE IN PRAYAGRAJ

‘Students instigated for violence on social media’

Suspended

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Kapil.Dixit@timesgroup.com

28.01.2022

Prayagraj: Investigations into the violent agitationb y students on Tuesday and attempt to stop a passenger train near Prayag railway station on Thursday revealed that it was a pre-planned move by t rouble-makers who instigated students through different social media groups for violent protests as in B ihar.Police on Thursday arrested

one Rajesh Sachan , a resident of Kanpur Dehat who had created a WhatsApp group and allegedlyinstigated students byposting inflammatory messages.

On Wednesday, police had arrested two more student leaders Mukesh Yadav and Pradeep Yadav, residents of Kushi Nagar and Pratapgarh respectively who ha d led protesters. Meanwhile, senior police officials interacted with students and urged them not to in volve themselves in violence or agitation, claiming some student leaders were instigating them for their vested interests. Offic ials said students should refrain from such activities as FIRs can be lodged against them and police actioncould spoil their future.

Deputy SP, Colonelganj, Ajeet Singh Chauhan told TOI that the violent agitation was preplanned, and Sachan has been arrested for instigating students through social media.

Total three arrests have been made so far in this connectionincluding two student leaders who led protesters and made an abortive bid to stop a train and block rail traffic near Pray ag st ation on Tuesday, the DSP added.

Police had cane-charged protesting students and forced them out of hostel and hotel rooms after breaking open the doors with rifle butts.

After videos of police action went viral on social media, six policem en, including one inspector, two sub inspectors and three constables, were suspended on Wednesday o n charges of dereliction of duty on allegations of high-handedness while handling protest over alleged anomalies in examination conducted by Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) for various nontechnical category posts.

DSP said several groups were created area-wise on social media to instigate students in colleges and aspirants pre paring for competitive exams.

Cops carried out patrolling on Thursday appealing students to talk with officials and not to indulge in violence.

SSP, P rayagraj, Ajay Kumar had visited Baghara and adjoining areas on Wedn esday and appealed to students to focus on their studies and not to involve themselves in activities disrupting l aw and order.

Issuing a clarification, Prayagraj police said they used mild force after students pelted stones from the hostel. Cops said theyh ad video-graphed the entire agitation near the station where students had assembled to stop a train. “We scanned the video footage and identified two student leaders who were leading the protesters and arrested them,” said a senior cop.