Local journalists in Uttar Pradesh held protests against the arrest of three journalists from Ballia in the case linked to the class 12 paper leak on Friday, Newsclick reported. The journalists, who were protesting under the banner of Allahabad News Reporters, issued a memorandum demanding the withdrawal of the cases registered against the journalists.

Local businessmen, students’ unions and journalists’ unions have also called for a “district bandh” on April 16.

Ajit Ojha and Digvijay Singh of Amar Ujala and Manoj Gupta of Rashtriya Sahara were among 50 arrested by police for their alleged “involvement” in the paper leak. The journalists have claimed that they were “framed for reporting on the paper leak”. On Tuesday, a lower court in Ballia rejected the bail plea of the three journalists.

Newsclick quoted club president Ashok Chaturvedi as saying, “A demand for immediate withdrawal of cases against the arrested scribes and their release, probe into the role of Ballia's DM and SP, and a judicial inquiry in the entire matter has been made in the memorandum.”

Apart from this, the union has also asked the district administration to issue an apology to the three journalists and called for action against the police personnel who arrested them.