Mumbai Police arrests Hindustani Bhau for supporting students’ protest against offline exams

The students demand online exams for classes 10th and 12th in view of the pandemic

February 1, 2022

Hindustani Bhau arrested by police for supporting students protest

On Tuesday, the Dharavi Police in Mumbai arrested Vikas Fhatak also known as Hindustani Bhau in connection with the students’ protest in Dharavi on Monday. Police said that they will take necessary action against Hindustani Bhau, who was reportedly present at the venue.

The state government’s decision to conduct exams offline is being opposed by the students in several cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Aurangabad. The students demand online exams for classes 10 and 12 in view of the pandemic. On Monday, students protested in Mumbai and Nagpur demanding online exams amid the pandemic.

Amid their protests, it was reported that YouTuber and social media influencer Hindustani Bhau had uploaded a video in which he appealed to the students to assemble in the Dharavi area near the residence of the State Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad. The video was uploaded on January 24 and had over 2.77 lakh views till Tuesday. An FIR has been registered against Hindustani Bhau and others.

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Hindustani Bhau said in a YouTube video, “In these two years, many people died because of Covid. Till now, families are recovering from the shock. And now the new drama of Omicron has started. What is this? The government is urging people to remain indoors. Then why take offline exams of the students, exams cancel karo. bacho ke jaan ke sath mat khelo warna hoga fir se andolan.”

A police officer from Dharavi said, “Around 100 to 150 police personnel were at the spot to disperse the crowd. An SRPF team was also brought in. Private and police vehicles were damaged. The students were throwing paver blocks. Hindustani Bhau had to be escorted from the spot as a lot of crowd had gathered around him… arresting him would have created more issues.”

An FIR has been registered against Fhatak and several others under IPC sections 353 (obstructing a public servant from discharging duty),332 (causing hurt to public servant), 427 (mischief causing damage), 109 (abutment), and 114 (abettor present when offence committed), 143, 145, 146, 149 for unlawful assembly and rioting and 188, 269, 270 for violating Covid-19 guidelines. The police have also booked them under section 3 (mischief causing damage) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property act 1984.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the decision to take offline exams has been taken after careful consideration and all measures like maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks will be taken. The Health Minister appealed to the protesting students to cooperate with the government in conducting in-person exams.

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