Over 10 students from Jamia Millia Islamia were detained by the Delhi Police early on Thursday morning following a protest against the university’s disciplinary action against two PhD scholars. The students were served show-cause notices for allegedly organizing a demonstration last year.
The protest, which began on February 10, was a response to what the students called a “crackdown on student activism” by the university administration. The students demanded the revocation of the disciplinary actions and raised concerns over restrictions on protests at the university.
The university claimed the protesting students were responsible for vandalizing university property, including the central canteen, and breaking the gate of the security advisor’s office. The administration said these actions forced them to take measures to restore order on campus.
A university statement accused the protesting students of disturbing academic activities, including preventing access to the Central Library and disrupting classes ahead of the mid-semester exams. The statement also mentioned that the students were carrying “objectionable contraband items” and had violated university rules.
The university requested police intervention to handle the situation. According to police sources, over 10 students were removed from the protest site around 4 am. The authorities also deployed heavy police security outside the campus to ensure law and order.
One police officer confirmed that the students were detained, and further investigations were underway.
Student leader Sonakshi shared the protesters’ key demands: the withdrawal of the show-cause notices for the two PhD students, the repeal of the 2022 Office Memorandum which restricts protests, the scrapping of a Rs 50,000 fine for graffiti and posters, and a guarantee that students will not face future disciplinary action for participating in protests.
The disciplinary committee is scheduled to meet on February 25 to review the involvement of the two PhD students in organizing “Jamia Resistance Day” on December 15, 2024, an event that marks the anniversary of the 2019 anti-CAA protests.
