The ugly scenes witnessed when students marching from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament were stopped by the police should disturb every citizen who values democracy. These were not rioters attempting to overthrow the state; they were students protesting against the NEET examination scandal and demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They had assembled peacefully at Jantar Mantar, the designated venue for public protests. Yet, without any visible provocation, the security forces responded with lathi charges, tear gas, pellet guns, and mass detentions.

Students were dragged across the road. Women protesters were handled with shocking insensitivity. Some of the batons used had nails embedded in them. One widely circulated video appears to show a........

© Free Press Journal