India’s Top Court Forms Panel to Probe Violence During Youth Protests
India’s Supreme Court on Thursday formed a panel to investigate allegations of excessive police force and attacks on security personnel during youth-led protests over a medical entrance exam paper leak. The demonstrations, which began in New Delhi and spread to other cities, saw clashes between protesters and security forces as thousands attempted to march towards parliament.
The panel will be headed by a former Supreme Court judge and include two other retired judges and two former police chiefs. It will examine allegations that protesters, including women, faced targeted violence, harassment and molestation, as well as claims of serious injuries caused by security personnel. Police have maintained that force was used only after demonstrators turned violent.
The protests triggered one of the biggest political crises of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term and eventually led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The government has also agreed to exam reforms and compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the paper leaks. The Supreme Court has asked the panel to submit an interim report as soon as possible, but has not set a deadline for the investigation.
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