In latest development, authorities in Rawalpindi have released 361 students arrested during protests over the alleged rape of a student at a Lahore college. The protests erupted following reports that a first-year student had been assaulted by a security guard at the Gulberg campus on October 11.
Outrage over the alleged incident spread across multiple campuses, leading to widespread demonstrations, some of which turned violent. The protests led to the arrest of 387 students, while 2,425 additional individuals were listed as unknown participants.
On Thursday, the arrested students were presented at the Rawalpindi Judicial Complex, where a district court granted bail to 14 of them, while three were remanded into custody for further investigation. The court questioned the basis for the mass arrests, ordering the release of all other detainees.
Parents gathered outside the courthouse as the students, many carrying schoolbags, were brought in. The court issued a stern warning, urging the students to avoid future disruptions and advising parents to focus on their children’s education.
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The protests were part of a larger movement, fueled by reports that a college bus driver had lured the victim into a basement where she was assaulted by a security guard. However, authorities have since disputed the details of the alleged incident.
Despite police requests for judicial remand of some students, the court dismissed the plea and released all others.
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