The Uttar Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against 12 individuals in connection with vandalism during a protest demanding that the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) exams be held in a single shift. The protest, which has been ongoing for the past two days outside the UPPSC office in Prayagraj, is driven by candidates advocating for “one day, one shift exams.”
According to officials, some miscreants broke barriers and damaged coaching boards late Tuesday night, prompting the police to take action and file an FIR against the 12 accused. “An FIR has been filed, and some individuals have been taken into custody,” said Abhishek Bharti, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj.
UPPSC officials have visited the protest site to engage with demonstrators, clarify the commission’s policies, and encourage them to suggest alternative solutions. Despite failed discussions the previous evening, the students remain determined to press their demands, with plans to bring in more participants and continue their peaceful protest. Equipped with supplies like biscuits, they have vowed to persist until their concerns are addressed.
The protestors are demanding that the upcoming PCS and RO/ARO exams be held in a single shift, as they believe this approach will make the process fairer and more efficient.
The protests have sparked a political debate in Uttar Pradesh. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the state government over the ongoing unrest, calling the protest a “yogi vs. competitor students” issue. Yadav questioned whether the government would now target student accommodations with bulldozers and warned, “The rise of the students will be the fall of the BJP.”
Yadav also criticized the BJP, accusing the government of diverting attention from pressing issues such as jobs and exam delays through communal politics. He pointed out the unfilled job vacancies and growing frustration among the youth.