Indian police deployed water cannons in the city of Raipur on Friday to disperse student protesters. The students were demanding the resignation of the country's education minister. The protest was part of a broader movement against recent changes to the education system.
Video footage showed police using water cannons to push back demonstrators who had gathered in the streets. Some protesters were seen running away as the water was sprayed. It is not clear if any injuries occurred during the incident.
The protests have been ongoing in several parts of India, with students expressing dissatisfaction with the government's education policies. The specific demands of the protesters in Raipur focused on the removal of the education minister, whom they accuse of mishandling reforms.
Authorities in Raipur said the use of water cannons was necessary to maintain order and prevent the protest from turning violent. They stated that the students had been warned to disperse before the water cannons were deployed.
The Indian government has not yet commented on the incident. The education minister has previously defended the reforms, saying they aim to modernize the country's education system and improve access for all students.
Protests in India are common, and security forces often use water cannons to control crowds. However, critics argue that such actions can escalate tensions and violate citizens' rights to peaceful assembly.