Pro-reservation students on protest inside Allahabad jail

Pro-reservation protestors late Friday began an indefinite sit-in at the Allahabad prison in Uttar Pradesh, officials said Saturday.

Students jailed for protests last week against the withdrawal of the new reservation policy in the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission examinations said the sit-in would continue till their demands are met, and the new policy is implemented.

Several students of the Allahabad University led by Dinesh Yadav, a student leader, had now began the stir inside the jail, officials said.

Meanwhile, the protestors, agitating under an umbrella group called "Samajik Nyay Morcha", in a meeting, have demanded that First Information Reports be lodged against the superintendent of police (city) and other district officials for using unnecessary force against peaceful protesters.

Student leader Manoj Yadav said the SP, circle officer, inspector of Colonelganj and the additional district magistrate had misbehaved with student leaders before their arrest, and hence should be punished by the state government.

The students also said that based on the medical report of the injured leaders, they were also mulling over moving the court.

"In case action is not taken against the errant officials, we will explore all options, including going to the courts, and the National Human Rights Commission," a student leader told IANS.

The pro-reservation students have been up in arms against the state government ever since it withdrew the reservation policy last week under pressure from the anti-reservation groups, who had indulged in violence in Allahabad.