ABVP activists allege police mishandled female students and obstructed media during Bengaluru demonstration over KPSC recruitment concernsABVP students protested in Bengaluru's Freedom Park and Maurya Circle against alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities, demanding a CBI probe. Police detained protesters; students allege mistreatment of female demonstrators and media obstruction.
Bengaluru: Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest in Bengaluru against alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment processes, demanding that the matter be referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). During the demonstration, police detained several protesting students, and allegations subsequently emerged regarding the treatment of female participants and the conduct of law enforcement personnel toward media representatives covering the event.
Students affiliated with the ABVP organised a "Bengaluru Chalo" programme, gathering at Freedom Park before attempting to march from Maurya Circle toward Vidhan Soudha. The demonstration was called to press for an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment, with protesters demanding that the case be handed over to the CBI.
Police Intervene as Protesters Attempt Road Sit-In
The situation escalated when protesting students attempted to sit on the road near Maurya Circle as part of their demonstration. Police personnel intervened to move the protesters away from the road, leading to a push-and-shove between the two sides. A verbal exchange also took place as police worked to disperse the gathering.
According to the protesters, while demonstrators were being loaded onto buses for detention, male police officers, without the presence of female staff, physically dragged away female students. It has been alleged that the protesting female students were treated in a humiliating manner during this process.
Claims of Obstruction Against Media
Reporters covering the demonstration said that when they questioned police about the treatment of the female protesters, officers responded rudely and attempted to block camera crews from filming. Media personnel further alleged that police approached them individually in a manner they described as showing arrogance, rather than addressing the questions collectively.
Students Detained, Demand for CBI Probe Reiterated
Police subsequently took into custody the students participating in the protest near Maurya Circle. Despite the detentions, ABVP activists reiterated their demand for a CBI investigation into the alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities, stating that the Bengaluru Chalo protest was intended to press authorities to transfer the case for an independent inquiry. The demonstration concluded with police detaining the protesting students after they attempted to continue their road-based agitation.
