31 Dalit activists, who had called a press conference in Lucknow, were arrested on Monday afternoon by the Uttar Pradesh police. They were all released later. The police said they arrested the activists because they planned to march later towards Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence, which they did not have permission for.

While eight activists were arrested from the Press Club, 23 other activists were arrested from a nearby guest house they were staying in.

The activists had booked a slot between noon and 4 pm for a discussion and press conference on the state of Dalits in Uttar Pradesh. The police told us we were being arrested to prevent cognizable offences, the activists said.