New Delhi, July 25: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday said he met students who observed a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar during the ongoing protest over the paper leaks and examination irregularities, asserting that they would not withdraw from the agitation despite “detentions or threats” from the government.

Addressing reporters after meeting the protesters, LoP Rahul Gandhi said the students had placed three “non-negotiable demands” before the government — the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, action against those responsible for the lathi-charge on protesters, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Elaborating on the students’ demands, Rahul Gandhi said the first and foremost requirement was the removal of the Education Minister from the Union Cabinet.

“There are three non-negotiable demands — first, the Education Minister, who is corrupt, incompetent, and misaligned, has to be sacked. There is some talk going on in Mr Modi’s Cabinet that the solution is to move Mr Dharmendra Pradhan to some other Ministry; this is not acceptable to the students of India or anybody.

“The reason is Mr Pradhan is a symbol of corruption and of what has happened to the future of India’s children; he is a symbol of the destruction of the most valuable thing this country has, which is our students and their future,” LoP Gandhi said.

Reiterating his stand, the Congress leader added, “There is going to be no conversation of Mr Dharmendra Pradhan being moved anywhere… Mr Dharmendra Pradhan has to be sacked. Period.”

LoP Gandhi also criticised the police action against the protesters, stating that many students had suffered injuries during the demonstrations and calling for accountability from those responsible.

“There are thousands and thousands of youngsters who have had lathis break their heads and legs; pellets in their bodies. The organisers and implementors need to be punished and made accountable,” he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Modi, LoP Gandhi further said, “The third thing is the leader of the entire machinery who is doing this — Mr Narendra Modi — has to apologise for what he has done to the students and the future of this country.”

The Lok Sabha LoP also reacted to notices issued by several Delhi-based universities, including Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, advising students against participating in the ongoing protests.

Claiming that the system was attempting to discourage students from continuing their agitation, Gandhi said he had assured them that they should not be intimidated by administrative action or threats.

“This is all the system that is attacking them (students). I told them, do not worry. No amount of strength… The entire Indian government, every single person from the Indian government, cannot remove you from there,” he said.

He asserted that the students would continue their agitation despite any attempts to stop them.

“Do whatever you want; detain, threaten, but we will not back off. They (the students) will not back off. They are the future of India; no one can fight them. Narendra Modi is India’s past, and the past cannot fight the future,” LoP Gandhi added.

New Delhi, July 25: Delhi Police has invoked the charge of attempted murder in the FIR registered at Kartavya Path Police Station in connection with the violence that erupted near Rail Bhawan and Parliament during the July 20 protest march.

The case incorporates several serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to police, the FIR was lodged on the complaint of an Inspector posted at Kartavya Path Police Station and documents the sequence of events that unfolded on Rafi Marg during the protest.

The FIR states that the complainant was deployed on duty at C-Hexagon, Zone-11 (Pink Booth), from 5:00 a.m. onwards as part of the security arrangements in the high-security zone.

As per the complaint, after receiving information over the wireless network, the police team rushed to the barricades near the Rail Bhawan roundabout, where thousands of protesters had assembled.

The FIR further states that repeated announcements were made through loudspeakers informing the gathering that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force and that permission had not been granted for the protest.

Despite the repeated warnings, the protesters allegedly refused to disperse and continued raising slogans, according to the FIR.

Police have further alleged in the complaint that certain individuals in the crowd instigated protesters to breach the barricades and move towards Parliament.

According to the FIR, protesters allegedly surrounded police personnel and assaulted them, besides hurling slippers and stones at the security forces deployed at the site.

The complaint further alleges that the mob attacked police personnel with the intention to kill, resulting in injuries to several officers deployed for law and order duties.

The FIR also alleges that public property, along with several private vehicles, was damaged during the violence.

According to the police, in view of the security requirements around Parliament and other key government establishments, personnel resorted to a lathi-charge and used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and restore order.

Officials said the case has been registered under 13 provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 109(1) relating to attempted murder, along with offences pertaining to assault on a public servant, obstruction in discharge of official duty, unlawful assembly, rioting, damage to public property and acts endangering human life.

Police said a total of 129 police personnel and more than 60 protesters sustained injuries during the clashes that took place on July 20.

In the aftermath of the violence, Delhi Police has deployed 18 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) across various routes as part of enhanced security arrangements.

Officials further said that around 15 FIRs have been registered so far in connection with the incidents linked to the protest.

Delhi Police also stated that if any allegations are made by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) or any other individual or organisation regarding the incident, those claims will be examined and investigated, and the findings will be made public.

Patna, July 25: In a major breakthrough in the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak case, the police have arrested the alleged kingpin of the racket, Bijendra Gupta, from Bihar.

Another accused, Indrajeet Singh alias Piku, was also taken into custody during the operation.

Both had been absconding for a prolonged period and were apprehended by a special team of the Bhiwandi Police following a targeted operation in Bihar.

According to a police official, Bijendra Gupta had managed to evade arrest despite continuous raids and search operations conducted by investigating agencies.

Acting on specific intelligence, the Bhiwandi Police tracked down the accused in Bihar and successfully arrested both Gupta and his associate.

Investigators described the arrests as a significant milestone in the ongoing probe into the alleged examination fraud.

Following his arrest, Bijendra Gupta was flown from Bihar to Pune Airport, where elaborate security arrangements had been made.

He is being escorted under heavy police protection to Bhiwandi, where investigators are expected to produce him before a court and seek police custody for detailed interrogation.

Officials believe custodial questioning could provide crucial information about the operation of the paper leak network and help identify other individuals involved.

Investigating agencies consider Bijendra Gupta to be a central figure in the alleged paper leak syndicate.

Police expect his interrogation to shed light on the planning and execution of the alleged paper leak, the identities and roles of other members of the network, the methods used to facilitate the alleged examination fraud, and the geographical reach and operational structure of the syndicate.

Authorities believe the investigation may uncover additional links to other individuals connected with the case.

The investigation will extend beyond the alleged paper leak itself.

Police are also examining the financial aspects of the racket, including the movement of funds, sources of financial support, and the channels through which the network allegedly operated.

Officials hope that tracing the money trail will help expose the broader conspiracy and identify additional beneficiaries or collaborators.

According to investigating agencies, Bijendra Gupta’s name has surfaced in several other high-profile examination paper leak cases in the past.

Police officials stated that multiple accused—including Gupta’s wife—had already been arrested earlier in connection with the Maharashtra TET paper leak investigation.

However, Gupta had remained absconding until his arrest in Bihar.

With the alleged mastermind now in custody, investigators expect the next phase of the probe to provide fresh leads and potentially reveal the full extent of the examination fraud network.