In another case of police brutality, Uttar Pradesh Police officers from Allahabad were caught on camera dragging two female students and a male student for waving black flags at the convoy of BJP president Amit Shah.
The incident occurred as Shah was visiting Allahabad, and has gone viral on social media. It shows police officers dragging the two female students, with one being grabbed by the hair and beaten by a policeman.
As Shah's convoy was passing the road, the students -- 25-year-old Neha Yadav, 24-year-old Rama Yadav and Kishan Maurya -- blocked the road and waved black flags. They could also be heard shouting "Amit Shah wapas jao". Male police officers then rushed in and dragged the three protestors away.
As they were forced into a police van, Neha was hit by a policeman with a baton, before being grabbed by the hair and shoved into the van. Another video, taken from a different angle shows a senior officer running towards the melee and shouting "no beating".
The three students, who were part of the Samajwadi Party's student wing -- Samajwadi Chatra Sabha, will be produced in court later on Saturday. As per the police, Neha is pursuing her PhD and Rama is doing her postgraduate studies at the Allahabad University.
In response to the incident, Samajwadi Party leader Richa Singh has slammed the police for their actions, claiming that the male officers misbehaved and assaulted the ladies in violation of the law. She also questioned the lack of female policewomen at the scene.
Shah was in the city to oversee preparations for the 2018 Kumbh Mela.
In June 2017, the Lucknow Police had arrested 12 students and charged them for showing black flags and halting the convoy of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Although they were issued bail a few weeks later, the UP Police have since cracked down on black flags and clothes from all rallies in the state where the CM is present.
