Anti-PSC stir turns violent, 35 ABVP activists held

At least 35 activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), including a girl, were arrested and three sustained serious injuries in a clash with the police at Hindu Hostel Crossing on Saturday after a protest against alleged irregularities in UPPSC turned violent.
Reports said some students and activists had announced a procession from Azad Park to Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC). The trouble started when hundreds of ABVP activists led by state secretary Devendra Singh, convener Dilip Shukla and Sanat Mishra started moving towards UPPSC demanding re-examination of both papers of general studies in PCS-2015 prelims exam, CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities and removal of UPPSC chairman.
The police had fortified the commission and closed all crossings leading to the examination conducting body. As the students reached the Hindu Hostel crossing, police force led by SP (City) Rajesh Yadav forced them back to Hindu Hostel. As the police used force, demonstrators squatted on the crossing as a protest. Some of the aspirants tried to remove the barricading and move towards UPPSC building, forcing the police to use force.
The cane charge soon turned into a clash between the police and the activists in which three members, including state head of ABVP Ayushi Shrimali, Devendra Singh, Dilip Shukla and Sanat Mishra sustained serious injuries. However, the students refused to budge. The police later arrested and taken to Industrial police station in Naini.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, who were staging demonstration separately under the leadership of Phulpur MP Keshav Prasad Maurya, tried to stop police vans by lying down on road in front of vans. However, they were forcibly evicted.
Speaking on the occasion, co-convener Himanshu Pandey said, “The state government is not recommending CBI inquiry against UPPSC chairman even though results of 22 examinations held under his tenure have been changed. All these exams were mired in irregularities in recruitment process. All the requests for probe against the exams conducted during his tenure have fallen over deaf ears.”
Police have lodged complaint action against several students on various charges. Colonelganj SO said, “Thirty-five ABVP members have been sent to the Industrial police station where medical examination is being done. An FIR has been lodged against them.”
ABVP state secretary Devendra Singh has warned of a fast-unto-death if UPPSC chairman was not removed and the PCS-2015 GS-II exam was not cancelled.
Meanwhile, BJP MP from Kaushambi Vinod Kumar Sonkar extended support to students sitting on fast-unto-death at Balson Crossing on Saturday. He also expressed resentment over police action on ABVP activists.