What happened: detentions/arrests and social-media removal claims

Accounts connected to protests seeking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation describe police actions involving detentions and arrests, plus claims that protest-related videos were removed on Instagram. The accounts cover a Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh case involving a detained adult and a Bhagalpur, Bihar case involving a detained minor, alongside Instagram user claims about July 20 protest videos.

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: a 21-year-old man was reported detained after being identified from a photograph taken during a July 26 protest. The account says the 21-year-old was released on Wednesday and alleged that police personnel beat him in police custody. Police alleged that the 21-year-old vandalised a private vehicle belonging to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member; the 21-year-old denied involvement. A police official responding to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj City, denied that any detention happened and said individuals were called for questioning based on CCTV footage and were released. The accounts also say 10 other people were arrested in the Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh case context.

Bhagalpur, Bihar: a Congress legal cell spokesperson said a 17-year-old from Bhagalpur was picked up from his home around 3:45 a.m. on July 26. The spokesperson said the 17-year-old was among about 40 people detained or arrested by Bhagalpur police. A senior police officer stated that, based on a government assurance, the case was being withdrawn and the youth was released.

Social media: Instagram users claimed that videos related to the July 20 protests were being removed.

Background and earlier position

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