New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday arrested 14 Jawaharlal Nehru University students after a violent scuffle broke out between police and protestors on Thursday at the JNU campus gate, following which police had detained 50 students. The university campus remained tense through the night as students’ union called for complete lockdown and another march against the detention of the students. On Thursday night, police registered an FIR at Vasant Kunj Police station has invoking various sections for obstructing and assaulting public servants on duty including non-bailable charges under Bhartiya Nayay Sanhita 221/121(1)/132/3(5).
Arrested Students include JNUSU President Aditi Mishra, Vice President Gopika Babu, Joint Secretary Danish Ali, former JNUSU President Nitish arrested in long march scuffle with police personnel
Why JNU Suddenly Erupted
The trouble began after a podcast published on February 16 in which JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit allegedly made hateful remarks about Dalits and Blacks. Students demanded her resignation and sought to march to the Union Ministry of Education to voice their grievances.
As per the complaint, the Vice-Chancellor said in the podcast that there is a culture of “permanent victimhood” and argued that people “cannot progress by being permanently a victim or playing the victim card.” She reportedly drew parallels with the experiences of Black communities and suggested that similar narratives were being applied to Dalits. She further remarked that portraying one group as a “permanent victim” and another as a “permanent oppressor” amounts to “manufacturing realities” and described such an approach as something that may provide temporary emotional satisfaction but ultimately “doesn’t work”.
The university administration denied permission for the march outside campus. Despite this, around 400 to 500 students gathered at the Sabarmati T point on Thursday afternoon and attempted to march out of the main gate.
What Happened at the Gates
When students reached the main gate, they found it locked with chains and surrounded by multiple layers of police barricades. Students from JNUSU and left-affiliated groups including AISF, SFI, PDSU and NSUI carried posters, flags and portraits of BR Ambedkar and tried to break the locks with stones.
At approximately 3.20 pm, students forced open the main gate and moved outside. This is when the situation spiralled.
Police Version: Students Turned Violent
Delhi Police said the protest turned violent and accused students of physically attacking security personnel.
“During the protest, barricades were damaged, and the demonstration turned violent. Protestors pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even physically assaulted Delhi Police personnel, including biting. As a result, several police personnel were injured. The protestors were stopped and contained at the North Gate of the JNU campus and were gradually moved back inside. Those who became violent and did not obey lawful orders were detained. Further details will be shared in due course,” Delhi Police said.
An FIR has been registered at Vasant Kunj police station under sections 221, 121(1), 132 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including non-bailable charges for obstructing and assaulting public servants on duty.
Students Version: Police Brutality, Medical Aid Denied
JNUSU told a completely different story. The union alleged that police locked the main gate with chains the moment students arrived and detained more than 50 students, sending them to undisclosed locations.
“As soon as the students reached the main gate of the campus, the police and other paramilitary forces locked the main gate with chains and multiple layers of barricades. When the students, through collective effort, forced the police to open the main gate, they detained more than 50 students and sent them to several undisclosed locations. Multiple students have faced varying degrees of injuries. The police have denied medical assistance to the injured students,” JNUSU stated.
Teachers Join the Protest
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association stepped in and condemned the police action, demanding the immediate release of all detained students.
“The JNUTA demands immediate release of all the detained students and strict action against the police officials responsible for transgressing the laws they are themselves bound by while enforcing them. The Police which are still at the campus gates, must also leave immediately. We appeal to JNU teachers to remain vigilant and speak up against this violence and onslaught on democracy,” JNUTA said in a statement.
The teachers association alleged that male police personnel manhandled female protesters, which it said was a violation of the law.
“The JNUTA strongly condemns the brutal use of force by the Delhi Police against JNU students and the detention of several of them, including two JNUSU Office bearers. Reports indicate that several students, including women, have been severely injured in the police action at the JNU gate, during which even the laws prohibiting male policemen from acting against women were brazenly flouted. The JNUTA is also extremely concerned about the well-being of those detained. There are several women among them, and they have been taken to unconfirmed locations that are far away from the campus. Reports are also coming of them being subjected to further police beatings while in custody,” the statement read.
Night March Called, Lockdown Announced
By evening, JNUSU had called for a complete campus lockdown and announced a second march from JNU main gate to Vasant Kunj police station.
“We call upon all the students of JNU to intensify the struggle to ensure a complete lockdown from tonight. We appeal to all students to reach the Main Gate. We will March from JNU Main Gate to Vasant Kunj Police Station,” JNUSU announced.
The situation on campus remained tense late into Thursday night. Further developments are awaited.
(With Inputs from ANI)
