Ghaziabad, Dec 25 (IANS): The Ghaziabad Parents Association (GPA) staged a dharna in front of the Sihani Gate police station here on Tuesday to protest against police harassment of its president and other members.

Seema Tyagi, president of the parents body, said that Manav Adhikar, an affiliate body of the GPA, fighting the unchecked tuition fee hike by private schools, planned to present a memorandum to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday during his visit to Patla village to unveil the statue of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

When the association members reached the venue to submit the memorandum to the CM, the police did not allow them access to the public meeting that was being addressed by the CM, and even tore up the memorandum, Tygai alleged.

Later, the police lodged an FIR against Seema Tyagi, resident of Indirapuram, and Manisha Tyagi, a resident of Kakra village of Niwari area, and over a dozen others. They were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Seema Tyagi alleged the police concocted a story that the association members had confronted the police and tried to obstruct them from performing their duty at the meeting.

On Monday night, the police allegedly barged into Seema Tyagi's house when she was alone at home, ransacked the place and ordered her to report at the police station on Tuesday morning.

"The association members have been served with a notice and they can submit their statements before the investigation officer. We are proceeding according to the law," said Sanjay Pandey, inspector in-charge of Sihani Gate police station.

Refuting allegations that Seema Tyagi's house was raided, Pandey said, "We are concerned about the law and order situation. No raid was conducted by the police."