Detained from train on way to Delhi, 14 to stage anti-Gyanesh protest in Pune

Fourteen students and activists were detained while attempting to travel from Pune to Delhi by train.

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.

They were detained from a train on Thursday while going to the national capital to take part in Saturday's CJP stir. 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.

Their release came after relatives of detainees Shravani Bua and Preeti Londhe filed a habeas corpus petition before the MP high court. 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.

NSYF member Akash Nawale said the group would return to Pune instead of proceeding to Delhi. "We are trying to make arrangements to return to Pune because govt has stopped all ways to travel to Delhi. We will return to Pune and protest there," he said, adding that fellow activist Niharika Bhosale and he had ended their hunger strike.

The detention had triggered allegations of excessive force and illegal confinement by the activists. The activists claimed that they were removed from Goa Express at Itarsi on Thursday and kept in a private resort's banquet hall.

Shravani Bua, a student and member of AISF, alleged that the group was "brutally dragged out" of the train and denied treatment despite injuries. 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.

According to the students, they were first stopped by a Maharashtra police team at Bhusawal station before being detained by Madhya Pradesh police on reaching Itarsi.

The incident comes amid claims by several student and youth leaders in Maharashtra that police contacted them regarding plans to attend the Delhi protest. 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.

Reacting to the detention, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had earlier on Friday posted on social media: "Why not just declare an emergency?" Social activist Vijay Kumbhar had also questioned the legality of such notices. "What exactly is wrong with govt - is it threatening people, or is it afraid?" he said.