ABVP protest turns tense as workers breach Indore collectorate barricades

ABVP workers on Thursday allegedly removed police barricades and entered the Indore collectorate while protesting over what they described as a lack of basic facilities in government colleges across Madhya Pradesh, eyewitnesses said.

The RSS-affiliated student organisation staged the demonstration outside the collectorate and raised slogans before attempting to enter the premises through the main gate. Police personnel stopped the protesters, following which some agitators allegedly pushed aside the barricades and entered the compound.

The protesters were also seen shaking the closed gate of the collectorate, according to eyewitnesses.

Pandhrinath police station in-charge Satish Patel said there was no untoward incident during the protest and that no case had been registered in connection with the demonstration so far.

ABVP’s Indore Mahanagar unit secretary Devesh Gurjar said the organisation had informed the local administration about the protest in advance and intended to submit a memorandum outlining its demands.

Gurjar said the protesters were angered after being stopped at the main gate. He added that the group subsequently handed over a memorandum addressed to Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar to an administrative officer.

The memorandum contained 18 demands concerning facilities in government-run colleges. These included better security and parking arrangements, access to safe drinking water, clean toilets, and adequate benches, fans and lighting in classrooms.

The protest comes amid a wider political debate over issues concerning young people and students in the BJP-ruled state.

with inputs from PTI