Former IPS officer SR Darapuri being escorted by the police. (ANI) Former IPS officer SR Darapuri being escorted by the police. (ANI)

Eight people, including a former IPS officer SR Darapuri, have been arrested by the police for demonstrating against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. They were allegedly staging a protest at the CM’s official residence in Lucknow. “The accused were headed towards Hazratganj where section 144 was imposed. They also did not have permission to hold a rally,” VC Tripathi, SP West Lucknow, said.

“Retired IPS officer S R Darapuri and seven others were arrested as they attempted to take out a rally at a public place without permission. They were arrested from the Chowk area,” Tripathi said, adding that the protesters were released subsequently.

“We were assembling at the UP Press Club to participate in a seminar on Dalit atrocities. Participants from other states, including Gujarat, were scheduled to take part in it. We were not on a street protest, but were still stopped from holding the event, which had to be cancelled eventually,” Darapuri told PTI after he was released by the police.

He alleged that the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression of the protesters had been infringed upon. “Apart from the eight persons, including me, arrested from outside the Press Club, 23 protesters were detained from the Nehru Yuva Kendra, near the Roomi Gate in Old Lucknow,” he said.

Those arrested were protesting against the recent violence in Saharanpur between Dalits and upper-caste Thakurs.

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