India, Oct. 6 -- Tribal students marching from Nashik to Mumbai to demand basic facilities in tribal schools and hostels were detained by the Mumbai police late on Sunday night. One group was stopped in Navi Mumbai while two other groups were detained after the police entered the Congress party offices where the students had taken a halt.

The incidents triggered outrage and accusations of the government attempting to crush the students before they could reach the protest site of Azad Maidan. The police also barricaded Tilak Bhavan, the Congress headquarters, and connecting roads, ensuring that no one could leave.

Dhurva Kadali (16) was among the students detained for over eight hours and only released after the state Congress leadership...