Over 23 people detained ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Varanasi visit

VARANASI: Anticipating protests against the government over several issues, police today detained more than 23 people from different areas as they were planning to stage demonstrations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

Five members of the Railways employee union, who were planning to protest against the Modi government's decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in their sector, have been detained as a precautionary measure.

Manduadih Station Officer, Ajit Mishra said the five persons, including Amar Singh, Sushil and three others, were detained and sent to police lines.

As many as 12 members of Shaheed Bhagat Singh youth front were also detained as they were planning to show black flags to the Prime Minister near Diesel Locomotives Works (DLW), where he is scheduled to attend programmes. They also wanted to hand over a memorandum to Modi.

Circle Officer of Bhelupur area said more than six students of Banaras Hindu University ( BHU) were detained for as they too had planned to block the Prime Minister's cavalcade in Lanka police station area to press for their demands of restoration of the university's Students' Union.