Agra protest over UGC regulations leads to traffic disruption

Hundreds of protesters demanding withdrawal of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, blocked the Yamuna Expressway in Agra on Sunday. Police used barricades to stop their march, leading to a brief scuffle

Agra: Hundreds of protesters demanding the rollback of the UGC regulations blocked the Yamuna Expressway in Agra on Sunday, leading to a scuffle and heated exchange with police.

According to the police, the protesters, who had gathered at Mudi intersection in the Khandauli police station area, arrived with dozens of tractors and attempted to march towards the district headquarters.

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Police tried to stop them by putting up barricades, leading to a scuffle and heated exchange between the two sides. The protesters eventually removed the barricades and reached the expressway.

The protesters are demanding withdrawal of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, alleging that some of its provisions could be misused against general-category students and lack adequate safeguards against false complaints.

Some protesters lay down on the expressway while others climbed onto trucks, bringing traffic to a halt. Police officials present at the spot managed to persuade them to clear the road, following which traffic movement resumed.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Himanshu Gaurav said some people had attempted to block the expressway but were later removed from the road.

No one has been detained so far, he said.