Fourteen students and activists were detained while attempting to travel from Pune to Delhi by train
A bench of Chief Justice A P Kogje and Justice Vivek Jain directed the state to produce the students before the court on Oct 13 and said they could be produced earlier after informing the petitioners and ensuring their safe return to their families. Pune-based activist Mayur Malkhede alleged that Ballarpur police served him a notice under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking details about his proposed participation and advising him against travelling to Delhi.
Shravani Bua, a student and member of AISF, alleged that the group was “brutally dragged out” of the train and denied treatment despite injuries. They were first stopped by a Maharashtra police team at Bhusawal station before being detained by Madhya Pradesh police on reaching Itarsi, according to the students. Affiliated with various student and youth organisations, they were to participate in the protest demanding resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, withdrawal of the SIR exercise and electoral reforms. Bhosale claimed plainclothes police personnel followed the activists during the journey and photographed them without consent. She also alleged that some detainees had their hands twisted while being taken into custody. The incident comes amid claims by several student and youth leaders in Maharashtra that police contacted them regarding plans to attend the Delhi protest.
Their release came after relatives of detainees Shravani Bua and Preeti Londhe filed a habeas corpus petition before the MP high court. PUNE: Fourteen students and activists on Friday said they would stage the anti-CEC protest in the city, instead of Delhi, after Madhya Pradesh police released them from detention following the HC’s direction.