Cops baton charge students protesting against UPPSC

Police today baton charged a group of students and used water cannons to quell their demonstration in protest against alleged corruption in the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission headquartered here.
The agitating students set fire to the vehicle of a Deputy Superintendent of Police and also indulged in heavy stone-pelting.
Trouble began at around noon when the students, who have been protesting the alleged corruption under the banner of "Bhrashtachar Mukti Morcha" gathered in front of the Allahabad University campus and proceeded toward the UPPSC office, about a couple of kilometres away.
Heavy police deployment had been made at the varsity campus by the district administration.

The police personnel tried to prevent the agitators' onward march and asked them to disperse.
This drew an angry response from the students, who allegedly pelted stones on the security personnel.

Police lathi-charged and used water cannons against the agitator even as some of the chafed students allegedly set fire to the official vehicle of a Deputy SP parked nearby.
However, no person was injured in the act of arson, police said.
Meanwhile, a number of agitators have been rounded up by police even as heavy deployment of forces remains in place at the varsity campus and along the route to the UPPSC office.

Several persons, including students as well as policemen, have been reportedly been injured during the lathi-charge and the stone-pelting.
The "Morcha", comprising students preparing for competitive examinations, has been holding protests for quite some time alleging corruption in the UPPSC, demanding a CBI inquiry into the same and also removal of the Commission's Chairman and Secretary.
The largely apolitical agitation has received a fillip recently with local leaders of the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party attending its demonstrations and pledging moral support to their demands.