VARANASI: Six students and two policemen were injured as cops resorted to lathicharge on students of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rajkeeya Aashram Paddhati Vidyalaya in Gurmura village of Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, hours before chief minister Yogi Adityanath reached Sonbhadra.On Wednesday morning, when police teams were headed towards Bahuara through Varanasi-Shaktinagar highway in view of the CM’s visit, the students — who were protesting the poor quality of food provided in the hostel — took to the streets and blocked the highway. They had reportedly refused to eat hostel food for the past 24 hours.Initial investigations have revealed that the allegation of “poor quality” food was true, after which SDM-Sadar was asked to conduct a further probe in the matter and submit a report to the district magistrate on Thursday.The students of Classes 6-10 were annoyed with the food vendor, principal and superintendent of their hostels.They alleged that since April they were not being given food as per the prescribed hostel menu. They also highlighted “bad sanitary conditions” of their dining hall and toilets. They alleged that instead of paying heed to their problems and complaints, the principal “misbehaved” with them.Obra circle officer KG Singh and district social welfare officer Rituraj Singh, along with heavy police force, rushed to the site to take control of the situation. As the students refused to lift the blockade and started brick-batting, police resorted to lathicharge in which the six students were injured.The CO said that a constable suffered head injuries while a local woman, a social welfare officer, and some other cops suffered minor injuries. They were taken to primary health centre.The CO denied that police had lodged an FIR against any student. Later, ADM Umakant Tripathi reached the site and talked to the students and school staff. He said, the allegations of poor quality food were true and the children were not given food as per prescribed norms at this school.

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