India, July 23 -- Even as student leaders and lawyers continued raising serious concerns about the police crackdown on students in Mumbai, the Mumbai University senate also entered the fray, voicing its support for students and demanding accountability from the government and the resignation of union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

On Wednesday, at a joint press conference, student leaders and lawyers said that students participating in peaceful protests were being stopped, detained and closely watched by the police. They said the situation was akin to an 'undeclared emergency' because of the way protesters were being treated.

"I had only heard about the emergency from my parents and grandparents but now I feel I am experiencing ...