PRAYAGRAJ/VARANASI, July 23 -- Hundreds of students and activists took to the streets in Prayagraj and Varanasi on Wednesday to protest against recurring paper leaks in competitive examinations and the recent police crackdown on students demonstrating at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. In Prayagraj, Congress and affiliated organisations, including the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), led demonstrations across several locations. Activists outside Holland Hall hostel attempted to burn an effigy of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, leading to a confrontation when the Colonelganj police seized the effigy. At the Civil Lines protest site, senior Congress leader Shekhar Bahuguna addressed the crowd, demanding the resignation of the Union education minister, the Prime Minister and the Union home minister, alleging that persistent paper leaks had compromised the integrity of the education system. Uttar Pradesh Congress general secretary Mukund Tiwari and party spokesperson Haseeb Ahmad called for an impartial investigation into all leak cases and strict accountability for those responsible. Separately, the Congress legal cell staged a demonstration near the Dr BR Ambedkar statue at the Allahabad high court crossing, condemning the alleged police brutality in Delhi. Meanwhile, Congress Trans-Ganga district president Ashfaq Ahmad alleged that he and several party office-bearers were placed under house arrest to prevent their participation in a planned march to Delhi. The protesters later submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the Baharia police station in-charge. In Varanasi, the protest centered on Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV) University, where students and members of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha gathered in support of the Delhi protesters. The situation escalated as activists climbed university gates to reach the streets, prompting confrontations with the police. Security forces including police, the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and paramilitary units were deployed across the campus, with drone cameras monitoring sensitive areas. Additional deputy commissioner of police (Kashi Zone) Vaibhav Bangar confirmed that heavy security had been established to maintain order. Student leaders, including Ayush Yadav of the Chhatra Sabha and Rishabh Pandey of the NSUI, vowed to continue their protests until the Union education minister resigns. Activist Sarita Patel condemned the Delhi incident, calling for an official apology from the government for the alleged use of force against student demonstrators. Following the protest, a case has been registered against 12 SP workers and several unidentified for staging a protest in front of BHU gate on Tuesday without permission, police said....