Prayagraj: The Civil Lines police on Monday arrested 10 people after registering a third FIR against unidentified persons on charges of attempt to murder in connection with the alleged vandalism during Saturday’s student protest.The police have launched a manhunt to take legal action against those involved in the violence and damage to public and private property. Police claimed to have identified some of the troublemakers through CCTV footage and other evidence.DCP (City) Maneesh Shandilya told TOI that the third FIR was lodged by Raviendra Jaiswal, regional co-convener of the BJP traders’ cell, after an unruly mob allegedly attacked and damaged his vehicle.In his FIR, Jaiswal alleged that the miscreants had ill intentions when they stopped his SUV after noticing the BJP flag on it while he was passing through Civil Lines. He claimed to have had a narrow escape in the incident.The district administration and police took serious cognisance of the violence and vandalism reported during Saturday’s massive protest and launched an exercise to identify those allegedly involved in damaging public and private property.Officials said CCTV footage and other available evidence were being examined to establish the identities of those responsible, following which strict legal action would be initiated against them. A total of three FIRs have been lodged at Civil Lines police station in connection with Saturday’s violence. All three FIRs were registered within a gap of 24 hours.On Saturday, thousands of students and youths assembled along MG Road between All Saints Cathedral and Subhash Crossing to protest against the NEET paper leak, alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and recruitment issues. While the first FIR was lodged by Rohit Dwivedi, son of former Banda MP Ramesh Chandra, the second FIR was filed by Rewa BJP functionary Prashant Pathak, a resident of Chakghat in Madhya Pradesh. Both victims alleged that their SUVs, bearing BJP flags and boards, were attacked at Civil Lines.Meanwhile, a delegation of SP leaders met senior district authorities and demanded that their workers should not be framed in fake cases. They also handed over a memorandum to district officials in support of their demands.
