Three people, including two women, were arrested for allegedly waving black flags and jumping in front of Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah's convoy in Allahabad. In a video doing the rounds in social media, the Uttar Pradesh cops thrashed the women student protesters, pulled one by her hair and shoved them into a van.

Amit Shah was travelling in a convoy of numerous cars, in a show of popularity and political strength when the three blocked the convoy. They are members of the student wing of rival political outfit Samajwadi Party that governed the state before the BJP won the elections. The cops later arrested the two women.

Indian news agencies described the attack by UP police personnel as "shameful acts".

Uttar Pradesh banned black flags, handkerchiefs or clothes from the rallies of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after a series of incidents.

In June last year, 12 students were arrested by the Lucknow police and charged under serious sections of the law for showing black flags and holding up the convoy of Yogi Adityanath at a Lucknow University function.

At a time when the country is reeling under unprecedented crimes against women, the incident of two female students being dragged and beaten is likely to attract a lot more criticism.