Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Congress Alleges Police Detained Tribal Students Before Mumbai Protest
Tribal students came from Nashik to Mumbai to ask for help with scholarships and their schools and hostels.
They had been protesting in Nashik for more than 10 days.
They planned to gather at Azad Maidan and stayed at the Congress office in Dadar.
Congress leaders said police detained students and tried to enter the office.
They also said police detained student leader Pradyum Yadav.
Congress asked for the students to be released and for officials to speak with them.
These claims were reported by Congress leaders.
The reports do not include a response from police or the state government.
Tribal students from Nashik travelled to Mumbai for a planned protest at Azad Maidan over scholarships and conditions in schools and hostels.
The students had reportedly protested in Nashik for more than 10 days and stayed at Maharashtra Congress headquarters, Tilak Bhavan, in Dadar.
Congress alleged police detained students early Monday, threatened them with cases and tried to enter the party office; accounts say the reported police activity began around midnight, with Varsha Gaikwad referring to arrests at 4 a.m.
Congress leaders also said a bus carrying students was taken into custody; Varsha Gaikwad said NSUI Mumbai president Pradyum Yadav was detained and handed over to Thane Police.
Congress condemned the alleged police action and demanded students’ release and dialogue; the reports provide no response from police or the state government.
- Who
- Tribal students from Nashik, Maharashtra Congress leaders, and Mumbai Police.
- What
- Students came to Mumbai to protest their demands; Congress alleged police detained students and attempted to enter its Dadar office.
- When
- Monday, October 5, 2026; the students arrived in Mumbai on Sunday night. Varsha Gaikwad said arrests began at 4 a.m., while Harshvardhan Sapkal described police activity since midnight.
- Where
- Tilak Bhavan in Dadar, Mumbai; the students planned to protest at Azad Maidan after travelling from Nashik.
- Why
- The students sought action on scholarships and issues including basic facilities, food quality and safety in schools and hostels.
Congress’s allegations and demands
Police and government response
Police conduct
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress leaders alleged police detained students, threatened them and tried to enter Tilak Bhavan. Varsha Gaikwad described the action as unlawful and an attempt to suppress the right to protest.
Police and government response
The reports provide no response from Mumbai Police or the Maharashtra government.
Students’ demands and next steps
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress said students were seeking redress for their demands and called for their release and dialogue with them.
Police and government response
The reports do not include an official response addressing the students’ demands.
- Students’ origin
- Nashik
- Planned protest site
- Azad Maidan, Mumbai
- Students’ accommodation
- Tilak Bhavan, the Maharashtra Congress headquarters in Dadar
- Reported demands
- Scholarships and improved conditions in ashram schools and hostels, including basic amenities, food quality and student safety; one report also mentioned protecting Marathi-medium schools.
- Duration of Nashik protest
- More than 10 days, according to the reports
- Congress allegations
- Police detained students, threatened them with cases and tried to enter Tilak Bhavan; Congress also said a bus carrying students was taken into custody.
- Pradyum Yadav
- Varsha Gaikwad said the NSUI Mumbai president was detained after protesting the police action and handed over to Thane Police.
- Official response
- The reports include no response from Mumbai Police or the Maharashtra government.
