This story is from April 17, 2022

Uttar Pradesh: Ballia Bandh in protest against arrest of journalists

The Bandh call given by Sanyukta Patrakar Sangarsh Morcha evoked good response in Ballia district as most of the markets remained closed in Ballia city on Saturday.
Uttar Pradesh: Ballia Bandh in protest against arrest of journalists
Ballia bandh observed in protest against arrest of scribes on Saturday
VARANASI: The Bandh call given by Sanyukta Patrakar Sangarsh Morcha evoked good response in Ballia district as most of the markets remained closed in Ballia city on Saturday.
Except incidents of exchange of heated arguments between the protesters and police, the Ballia Bandh agitation remained peaceful. The SPSM, which gave the bandh call in protest against arrest of three journalists for exposing leak of UP Board intermediate exam paper that led to cancellation of this exam in 24 districts on March 30, enjoyed support of the unions of traders, lawyers, teachers and students.
The effects of bandh call remained evident in Kasim Bazar, Chowk, Gudari Bazar, Chaman Singh Bagh Road, Bhrigu Ashram, Kadam Chauraha, Malgodam, Japlinganj, station road, Sutarpatti, hospital road, Chittu Pandey Road, Gandhi Nagar and most of the markets since morning.

The traders, lawyers and members of other unions started coming on roads by 12 noon and appealed to those shop owners, who had kept their shops opened partially to extend support to their agitation. When the cops tried to stop them heated arguments were evident at few places in the limits of Kotwali police station area.
The president of Purvanchal Udyog Vyapar Mandal Manjay Singh and joint secretary of federation of All India Vyapar Mandal Rajnikant said that their unions had unanimously decided to extend support to the bandh call of SPSM as Ballia people are shocked to see that officials of district administration and police sent those journalists behind the bar, who exposed the UP Board exam paper leak. They said that most of the shopowners had kept their shops closed and few, who opened their shops, also pulled down the shutters when appealed to extend support to the agitation.

Following the leak of the UP Board intermediate English examination and its cancellation in 24 districts on March 30, three FIRs were lodged under sections of IPC, UP Public Examinations (Prevention of unfair means) and IT Acts with Kotwali, Nagra and Sikandarpur police station. Apart from district inspector of school and other accused persons police also arrested three journalists including Ajit Ojha, Digvijay Singh and Manoj Kumar Gupta. Their bail plea was also rejected from lower court April 13. In protest against arrest of journalists all their unions formed SPSM and started indefinite sit-in at district headquarters on March 30 demanding suspension of district magistrate and superintendent of police for taking action against those who exposed the paper leak incident, withdrawal of cases from journalists and proper investigation in making of UP Board examination centres at unaided institutions as it would expose a major scam. The stir was converted into token hunger strike from April 11.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA