India clamps down on youth protests amid rising dissent

The Indian government has stepped up enforcement against recent youth protests, deploying police and paramilitary units to disperse gatherings in several cities. Security forces have detained a number of participants, invoking public order statutes, while human‑rights organisations warn that such measures could erode freedom of expression. Analysts argue the crackdown aims to pre‑empt further unrest ahead of upcoming political milestones, yet officials have offered little clarity on future policy direction. Courts are now reviewing the legality of the arrests as civil society urges dialogue and respect for democratic rights.