22 students were detained after they staged a protest and squatted, armed with banners and placards, on Thursday, outside Amitabh Bachchan's residence. The protest happened after Amitabh Bachchan posted a tweet, expressing his support towards the Mumbai Metro project.

It all started with a tweet

The 76-year-old Bollywood icon who has, time and again, himself been a face of several environmental campaigns is, since his tweet, facing flak from certain quarters for coming out in support of the Metro project. His statement did not go down well with people and activists who have been opposing the felling of about 2600 trees in Mumbai’s renowned Aarey forest.

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The protest was initially silent

According to a senior inspector from the Juhu police station Pandrinath Vahwal, "The students, under the banner of the Vidhyarthi Bharatiya Sanghatna, landed outside Bachchan's 'Pratiksha' bungalow holding banners and placards." The students carried placards with messages for help for saving Aarey Colony and opposing the proposed hacking of trees in the sprawling green belt in the suburbs. Initially, the protests started silently but the students soon took to shouting slogans in front of the actor’s house. 

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"Police detained 22 students and after taking their details we will release them," the inspector said. Additionally, another silent protest by a group of activists, opposing the proposed felling of trees in Aarey Colony was also staged in Juhu on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bachchan in a tweet said, "Friend of mine had a medical emergency, decided to take METRO instead of his car...came back very impressed..said was faster, convenient and most efficient..Solution for Pollution..Grow more trees..I did in my garden.. have you."

READ | Completely against cutting of trees: Sonakshi Sinha on Aarey forest

However, environmental activist Zoru Bhathena, who has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the civic body's approval for felling of the trees, asked the megastar to visit Aarey to understand the ground reality and also hit out at the Metro project authorities.

READ | Aarey Colony's last resort: Students ask Bear Grylls to help

(With PTI inputs)