Lucknow, Jan 9: Protests across Uttar Pradesh by Samajwadi Party (SP) workers today led to the release of party leaders Shivpal Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav, hours after they were arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow during a student-organised agitation.

Earlier in the day, party workers participated in a statewide protest that turned violent in places like Etah and Saifai.

In Allahabad, Samjawadi Party activists stalled the movement of Ganga-Gomti Express train.

"Today, all of us have gathered here to protest against the arrest of our leader Akhilesh Yadav and our state in-charge Shivpal Yadav by stalling the Ganga-Gomti Express in Allahabad. We want to uproot the inefficient Mayawati Government, which wants to curb democracy, put a stop to student unions and resort to using force against the activists of the Union who raised their voices against injustice at the Lucknow University. Today we have stalled the train to protest against the injustice meted out to us,"said RavindraYadav, the district head of the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha.

The train moved after police intervention.

The Samajwadi party leaders were arrested for protesting against the incarceration of two leaders of the party's student wing, the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha.

The Sabha was protesting against a ban on the student unions elections in the state by the Mayawati Government.

The situation got out of hand when the police resorted to a baton charge and ill treated the two party leaders. (ANI)