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New Delhi: At least five criminal cases have been registered in Uttar Pradesh – four of them based on complaints by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders – in connection with alleged vandalism and rioting during nationwide protests which lead to the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday (July 25).

Ten persons were arrested in Prayagraj, where three FIRs were lodged. The other two cases were filed in Bhadohi district, where nine individuals, many linked to the Samajwadi Party (SP), were booked under two separate FIRs for allegedly assaulting a BJP leader, damaging his car, and obstructing traffic during an “unauthorised protest march”.

The Wire has reviewed copies of all five FIRs.

Supreme Court directives to release demonstrators won’t apply, says ACP

Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) (Civil Lines, Prayagraj) Vidyut Goyal told The Wire that Supreme Court directives ordering states to immediately release demonstrators and students without criminal antecedents would not apply to the three cases registered in the district.

“The FIRs were not lodged against the student protesters, but against anarchic elements,” he said, confirming that ten people had been arrested over the alleged violence.

Hours before Pradhan tendered his resignation following weeks of youth-led public protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, similar demonstrations were held across Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country.

On Saturday, students and youth gathered in the heart of Prayagraj to protest against the NEET paper leak and competitive examination irregularities.

Also read: Supreme Court Mulls SIT Probe on Use of Excessive Force, Orders Release of Student Protesters Without Criminal Antecedents

All three FIRs filed in Prayagraj involved alleged attacks on BJP members and included serious charges of attempt to murder. In each case, the complaints were directed against “unknown” rioters or miscreants.

In his complaint,........

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