The protesters were demanding withdrawal of cases against students arrested for showing black flags to CM on J... Read More

LUCKNOW: Nine activists of Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha ( SCS ), the student's wing of Samajwadi Party , were detained by the police on Friday when they sat in protest outside Lucknow University vice-chancellor SP Singh 's residence.

They were demanding the withdrawal of cases against students arrested on June 7 for showing black flags to chief minister Aditya Nath Yogi.

LU authorities said four of these students had been expelled earlier for indiscipline and indulging in violence on the campus in different cases. Of the remaining, two are currently LU students, and the rest outsiders.

Police said all activists were detained for vitiating peace and order and charged under section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code. They, however, refused to sign a bail bond and preferred to go to jail, said inspector Mahanagar RN Rai. Earlier, high drama had marked the detention of the SCS activists. Around 30 activists sat on a 'hunger strike' outside the VC's residence. They put up banners and chanted slogans demanding release of the arrested students. They also demanded that LU revokes their suspension. The protest continued for two hours before heavy police was rushed to the spot.

On June 7, 14 students including two girls were arrested for showing black flags to the CM and blocking his cavalcade when he was on way to attend a function in LU. Three were released the same day after they signed personal bonds. However, 11 were sent to jail on serious charges of rioting and breaching VIP security. Since then, various students organizations have been protesting against the action. "Student leaders said they sat on a demonstration because the VC was not available for a meeting despite an appointment," said Trishul Dhari Singh, an SCS activist.

The VC said he had given time to these students for a meeting on Wednesday but they didn't turn up. "I am available in my office...what is the need to protest outside my residence," he added. About the four students expelled earlier, LU spokesperson Prof NK Pandey said Vivek Singh Baba and Neeraj Shukla were expelled in 2016 for passing lewd comments at girls, Suraj Pratap Singh in 2015 on charges of carrying a firearm, indulging in violence, extortion and kidnapping, and Karunesh Dwivedi for vitiating peace.

