Twenty-eight students, including JNUSU President Nitesh Kumar, were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday night following a protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) over alleged casteist abuse and assault by ABVP members. The protest, organised by Left-affiliated student groups, demanded that an FIR be registered against ABVP for violence during the General Body meeting at the School of Social Sciences (SSS).
According to student groups, the Delhi Police used excessive force, while officials said protesters broke barricades and disrupted traffic. The march, called a “social march for social justice,” saw around 100 students gather at JNU’s western gate and move towards the Vasant Kunj North police station, shouting slogans against the police. Barricades were erected on Nelson Mandela Marg, but the students broke through and took to the road, leading to their detention.
AISA stated that Nitesh Kumar and other students were brutally beaten during the protest. The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) alleged that female students were manhandled and male students, including SPS councillor Abhishek, were beaten and required hospital treatment.
Delhi Police Deputy Commissioner Amit Goel denied the allegations of excessive force, stating, “Around 70-80 students, including women, gathered at the JNU West Gate and broke police barricades, manhandled personnel, and obstructed traffic. A total of 28 students, including JNUSU office bearers, were detained to prevent any untoward incident.” He added that six police personnel were injured.
Nitesh Kumar claimed that during the General Body meeting, ABVP members held him, the Vice-President, the General Secretary, and the Counselor hostage for nearly two hours, during which they faced casteist abuse and assault. “We immediately called the Delhi Police for help, but they took no action. As we marched to the Vasant Kunj police station to protest, we were lathi-charged and detained,” he said.
He accused the police of repeatedly ignoring violence at JNU and said, “We demanded an FIR against those who held us hostage, but even after 24 hours, no action has been taken.” Police officials, however, said they had held talks with student leaders throughout the day and assured them the matter was being investigated, but the students remained dissatisfied and proceeded with the march.
