Mumbai, Jul 23 (PTI) The Maharashtra Congress on Thursday demanded withdrawal of “false” cases filed against hundreds of students in Mumbai, who participated in protests to show solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led students’ agitation in New Delhi.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal led a delegation of party leaders, including Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Naseem Khan and the party’s former city unit chief Bhai Jagtap, and submitted a memorandum of demands to Director General of Police (DGP) Sadanand Date and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.
The Congress alleged illegal detention of students, registration of false FIRs and violation of privacy during the recent police action against student protesters.
In the memorandum, Sapkal alleged that 500 to 700 students were taken into preventive custody in Mumbai on July 20 and 22 before they could even reach protest venues, and that many were picked up from metro stations, public roads and even from outside their homes.
The Congress also alleged that the police registered “false” FIRs against students despite the absence of prohibitory orders, and accused officers of illegally checking students’ mobile phones and compelling them to share their live locations.
The memorandum claimed that 200 to 300 students were still under detention at police stations in areas, including Dharavi, Mahim, Juhu, Chembur and Dadar.
Demanding immediate intervention, the Congress sought the release of all detained students, withdrawal of all FIRs, and departmental action against police officers accused of violating legal procedures.
The opposition party also urged the police to withdraw criminal cases against minors and young students, saying such cases could adversely affect their education, employment prospects and opportunities to pursue higher studies abroad.
Sapkal said the Congress would continue its agitation in support of the students if corrective action was not taken by the police authorities.
The Mumbai police have registered 13 FIRs since July 18 in connection with the ongoing protests on charges of unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders, booking 400 people, officials said on Wednesday.
Cases have been registered at different police stations, and notices were issued to those named in the FIRs, following which they were allowed to leave, they said.
Mumbai has been witnessing protests in solidarity with the CJP-led students’ agitation in New Delhi. PTI MR NP
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