Jamia Protest: Students File Complaint Alleging Varsity Violence

Students protest at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University

(Photo: The Quint)

The Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police South East said on Wednesday, 23 October, that a complaint has been filed by the students of Delhi’s Jamia University. The complaint alleges that on the instruction of the university administration, some people attacked them on Tuesday, when they were protesting against a notice issued to five students.

On Tuesday, a scuffle had broken out in Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia university on Tuesday after student groups accused varsity administration of using violence against them who were protesting against showcause notices issued to five students.

The administration however, has denied the charge saying that the clashes broke out between two groups of students and the authorities did not have any involvement.

HOW THINGS STARTED

According to students’ group All India Students' Association, on the afternoon of October 22, thousands of Jamia Millia Islamia students marched to the vice-chancellor's office against the show cause to five students.

The five students were issued notices for allegedly “disturbing the normal functioning” of the varsity, after they demonstrated against an event on campus in which there was a participant from Israel.

Since then, the students had been on an indefinite strike and on Tuesday, which was the ninth day of the strike, students had gheraoed the vice-chancellor office against the administration.

WHAT HAPPENED THEN?

The student bodies have alleged that the varsity administration “hired goons” to attack the protesters.

"In the evening, dozens of hired goons violently attacked the protesting students in which many students got seriously injured while security guards watched all this happen silently," the AISA alleged.

According to another student group, Pinjra Tod, students blockaded the gates surrounding the VC office.

“The administration launched goons who assaulted students with belts, glass pieces and flower pots, manhandled and groped women students while security guards and office staff stood quietly shielding the attackers,” they alleged.

The administration also alerted the Delhi Police to take care of the 'law and order' situation in the university, they claimed.

They said an overwhelming number of students have occupied the VC's office and blocked the Delhi Police from entering the campus premises.

They also demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief Proctor for the “brazen assault on Jamia students”.

WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY SAYING?

the university administration, in a statement, said the showcause notice to five students was issued for indiscipline and they were asked to reply to the notice.

“Instead of replying, they burnt the copies of the notice and also boycotted the disciplinary committee meeting where they had the opportunity to present their case, “ the varsity administration said.

For the last two days, a number of meetings of protesting students with university authorities, Jamia Teachers' Association and Alumni association were held, they said.

The administration further said that a group of senior teachers and officials of the university met the agitating students and assured that the demands will be discussed at the highest level, but the protesters refused.

A number of delegates who were attending a conference organised by English department on Mahatma Gandhi at Meer Taqi Meer Building were also not allowed to go out of the main administrative complex, the varsity said.

When the students of English Department tried to help the delegates to take out their vehicles, the protesting students physically stopped them, they said.

“A scuffle broke out between the group of students. The protesting students damaged vehicles parked in the complex where they have laid the siege, “ they said.

WHAT’S THE POLICE’S VERSION?

Police said they were called in put they stood at the gate of the campus but did not enter the University.

"No one was detained and we have not received any complaint in this regard," a police official said, according to news agency PTI.