Police cane students for demanding quota in pvt sector

Many Dalit students were injured when the police caned them as they attempted to displace barricades and reach the Freedom Park to hold a protest rally for reservation in the private sector. Many protesters were detained as a preventive measure and released later, said the Upparpet police.

Traffic on Seshadri Road, Palace Road, KG Road, Kalidasa Road and around Majestic area was disrupted for over two hours, police said.

The Bahujan Students’ Association had planned a protest at the Freedom Park to draw the attention of the State and Central governments towards reservation in the private sector in the wake of the Invest Karnataka 2016 meet. Its cadre took out a procession from the City railway station around noon, but the police stopped them on Seshadri Road by placing barricades.

A heated argument broke out between the police and the protesters. The situation went out of control as the protesters tried to climb over the barricades. The police caned them, leading to tension. Later, police permitted them to hold the rally peacefully.

The association convenor, Hariram, said more than 100 protesters, including women, were injured in the lathi-charge and demanded action against the police.

Bheem Rao, president of the association, said many talented Dalit youth were deprived of job opportunities that were generated after liberalisation.