Pro-quota protesters attack Hindi daily office

The police said the situation has been brought under control and those involved in violence were being arrested.

Police said the pro-reservation job aspirants were taking out a candle march from Balsons Chauraha to Subhash Chowk in Civil Lines to protest against the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission’s decision to withdraw the new reservation policy that was allegedly in favour of the OBC category candidates.

“Some elements participating in the candle march resorted to unprovoked violence at a few places. We are in the process of bringing things under control. They will be arrested and booked under serious charges. The extent of damage to property is being assessed,’’ said Allahabad Senior Superintendent of Police,Umesh Srivastava.

The candle march had started around 6 pm and was supposed to reach Subhash Chowk in about an hour’s time. However,a group of protesters reached Jagran House around 7.30pm and began pelting stones.

“Our signboards and some vehicles were damaged. Around a dozen bikes have also been damaged,while some people sustained injuries in stone pelting,” said a journalist working with the Hindi publication.

Soon after,another group of protesters resorted to stone pelting outside the PVR multiplex-cum-mall on Sardar Patel Marg in Civil Lines. A hoarding of SP leaders at Subhash Chowk was also damaged by the protesters.

“A few vehicles have been damaged. The force has been deployed and the situation is gradually coming under control,” said a police official.

There were reports of the job aspirants creating ruckus in the Katra area near the Allahabad University and Balsons Chauraha also. However,the police said that the violence was limited to Civil Lines area only.

The pro-reservation aspirants have been blaming the media for biased coverage and not paying heed to their cause,ever since the controversy erupted. They are miffed at the UPPSC decision taken on July 26 in which the new policy was withdrawn amid pressure from anti-quota group. The decision was taken after a delegation of anti-reservation group met SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The new reservation policy,introduced on May 27,had allowed those OBC category candidates,who had scored either equal to or higher than the lowest cut-off marks in the general category,to be allowed to appear in the interview as “general category” candidates in the UP PCS-2011 examinations.