Police and students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) sustained injuries on Thursday following a confrontation during a protest march to the Ministry of Education office in Delhi. The demonstration was organised by the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) amid ongoing disagreements with the university administration over recent disciplinary actions and policy remarks.
The protest, described as a "Long March," was announced by students to highlight their demands, including opposition to the recent rustication of student leaders, implementation of University Grants Commission norms, and support for the proposed Rohith Act. Police said in a statement that they had not granted permission for the march outside campus grounds.
Despite the advisory, between 400 and 500 students gathered and began the march from campus. Around 3:20 pm, they moved toward the main gate in an attempt to proceed to the ministry. Police set up barricades in response to the approaching group.
In videos from Thursday’s protest at JNU, students allegedly associated with the JNUSU can be seen slapping police personnel, abusing security staff, and throwing sticks at them.
In one video, a PhD student named Nitish is seen climbing a wall inside JNU and allegedly instigating students, while also speaking about teaching the police a lesson.
In another video, a student identified as Shrey is seen allegedly slapping a police officer. A third video purportedly shows students abusing security personnel deployed outside the JNU campus and throwing a stick at a Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawan.
As tensions rose, barricades outside the campus were breached. According to a senior police officer, "Barricades placed outside the campus were damaged as the situation escalated. The protesters pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes and resorted to physical assault. Some police personnel were bitten during the scuffle, resulting in injuries to several officers deployed at the spot," a senior police officer told news agency PTI.
More than 51 people have been detained and 14 arrested, while morning visuals from outside the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus showed heavy police deployment following violent clashes between students and police.
Earlier, police indicated that they pushed the protesters back inside university grounds. The situation resulted in injuries to about 25 police personnel, including several senior officers. The protesters, for their part, alleged that authorities used undue force, causing injuries to many students.
JNUSU president Aditi Mishra and former president Nitish Kumar were among 51 demonstrators detained after trying to leave the campus. Police stated that they had detained some protesters to maintain law and order at the university gates.
Several students claimed that after being detained, some protesters were taken to "unconfirmed locations." This allegation was also echoed by the university's teachers' association, which expressed concern for the detainees' well-being.
JNUSU further alleged that a portrait of BR Ambedkar was damaged during police action. Videos purportedly showing the incident circulated online, though their authenticity could not be independently verified.
In an official statement, the university said, "JNUSU protestors are demanding UGC regulations to be implemented. This is in violation of the Honorable Supreme Court which issued a stay on the regulations. JNU Vice Chancellor or Registrar have no powers over the regulations."
The administration stated that students had "refused to address the core issue of students who were rusticated for 'vandalism and violence' unleashed inside the campus." The university emphasized that disciplinary action followed a proctorial inquiry as per procedure.
The university also noted, "JNU is a public university hence accountable to the government, the Parliament and the Indian taxpayers. It is deplorable that a woman OBC Vice Chancellor is instead attacked on false allegations, only to divert from the issue of violence and vandalism of public property," the university said in its statement.
Police reported that protesters used sticks and resorted to physical assault, resulting in injuries among officers. An FIR was subsequently registered against the students at Vasant Kunj North police station under sections relating to obstruction, assault, and common intentions.
JNUSU and the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) condemned what they described as "brutal use of force" by police, and demanded the immediate release of all students detained during the protest.
JNUTA further alleged that the police actions were an attempt to prevent students from exercising their democratic rights, especially as some students were reportedly taken to "unconfirmed locations." The association described injuries among both male and female students.
Police, in response to the allegations, stated, "We have detained some of the protestors. Some protestors are levelling allegations that police manhandled them which are completely baseless. Every single officer deputed there were maintaining law and order," the officer told PTI.
The protest comes in the context of ongoing debates at JNU regarding administrative authority, student discipline, and the implementation of education policies. Both the administration and student groups remain at odds over the underlying causes and handling of recent campus unrest.
Source: India Today