KPUC inmates stage road blockade over assault case and police action

Prayagraj: Chaos prevailed outside the KPUC hostel as inmates of this hostel of trust staged a road blockade (chakka jam), demanding justice in a recent assault case that occurred on University Road earlier this week.

The protest was triggered by an incident on May 12, when a student of Allahabad University and an inmate of the KPUC hostel was allegedly attacked near the hostel premises by a local shopkeeper, leaving the student with a serious head injury. Students submitted a written complaint to the police, urging strict action against the accused. The inmates believed that while an FIR was registered, it notably lacked the section pertaining to an attempt to murder, leading to allegations of police negligence.

According to the protesting students, the police were allegedly siding with the accused and deliberately avoiding the inclusion of serious charges in the FIR. With no significant action taken even five days after the incident, students staged a road blackade. The situation escalated into a chakka jam outside the hostel, drawing the attention of Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abhijeet Kumar, who arrived at the scene and assured the students that appropriate action would be taken.

The students, however, remain firm in their demands, which included the inclusion of the attempt to murder charge in the FIR and action against all involved within the next 24 hours. They have warned that failure to meet these demands will lead to a larger, university-wide protest.

Owing to the road blockade, traffic was adversely affected on the busy Motilal Nehru Road. Commuters were forced to take alternative routes. After around an hour of total chaos, traffic returned to normal following the intervention of police officials and the assurance given by the ACP.