Poster colouring: Maya frees held schoolboys

Four school students were arrested for allegedly smearing colour on posters of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati during Holi, and a local court in Lucknow on Wednesday freed them on bail even as she chided the police for taking such harsh action for a 'petty mistake'.

The students of UP Sainik School in Lucknow, who are appearing for their XII board exams, were arrested on Holi night on charges of damaging public property and a case had been lodged against them under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

They were later sent to a reformatory home for juveniles. "The juvenile justice board granted bail to the four students. They were asked to furnish bonds of Rs 20,000 each after considering their family background and board examination," official sources said.

The board also took a written undertaking from the parents of the students. Taking serious exception to action taken against the students for their 'petty mistake,' Mayawati said she talked to the Lucknow deputy inspector general of police and asked him why they had been punished so harshly and that too during their exams.

"I have asked him to release them immediately," she told a press conference in Lucknow.

"I talked to DIG Lucknow this morning after the incident came into my knowledge. The boys had made a petty mistake and such a stringent action should not have been taken against them that too during their board exams. They should have been released after giving a warning. I have asked police to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," she said.