JNU protest turns violent: 28 students detained, 6 police personnel injured during march against ABVP
Tensions escalated at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Saturday evening after a protest march by Left-affiliated student groups demanding an First Information Report (FIR) against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members led to clashes with police. At least 28 students, including top office-bearers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), were detained, while 6 police personnel sustained injuries during the scuffle, according to Delhi Police.The protest was organised by members of the Left-backed JNUSU, who accused police of inaction over a complaint lodged earlier by JNUSU president Nitish Kumar. Kumar had alleged that he was physically assaulted, held hostage, and subjected to caste-based slurs by ABVP members following a university meeting to select the election committee for the upcoming student union polls, PTI reports.In response, the ABVP alleged that Left-affiliated students had themselves resorted to violence and made discriminatory remarks against students from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Police say barricades were broken, traffic obstructed
According to police officials quoted by TNN, authorities had prior information about the planned march to the Vasant Kunj North police station. Despite repeated requests to call off the demonstration, students gathered at the JNU West Gate around 6 pm and attempted to move towards Nelson Mandela Marg.“Despite repeated requests, the students forcefully pushed through and broke the barricades, manhandled police personnel, used abusive language and moved onto Nelson Mandela Marg, causing temporary obstruction of traffic,” a senior officer told TNN.Police said 28 students, including 19 men and nine women, were detained to prevent escalation. Those detained included JNUSU president Nitish Kumar, vice-president Manisha, and general secretary Muntia Fatima. Six police personnel, four men and two women, were reportedly injured and taken for medical examination.
Student groups allege police brutality
Meanwhile, student groups alleged “brutal assault” by Delhi Police. The All India Students’ Association (AISA) claimed that the JNUSU president and several others were “brutally beaten up” while attempting to march towards the Vasant Kunj police station.“JNUSU president and other students were brutalised by Delhi Police while demanding FIR against ABVP’s violence across School GBMs,” AISA said in a statement, PTI reports.The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also accused police of using excessive force, alleging that “female students were pulled by their hair and manhandled, including by male personnel.” It further claimed that a student councillor, Abhishek, was “brutally beaten” and taken to hospital.
Police deny allegations of manhandling
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goel denied the allegations, stating that students had “broken barricades, manhandled personnel, and obstructed traffic.” “A total of 28 students, including JNUSU office bearers, were detained to prevent any untoward incident,” Goel told PTI.The march, described in posters as a “social march for social justice,” was called to demand action against ABVP members accused of attacking Left-affiliated students.
ABVP condemns violence, calls for calm
JNUSU joint secretary Vaibhav Meena, affiliated with ABVP, condemned the incident, calling it “an insult to the dignity of JNU.” Quoted by TNN, Meena said, “Differences of opinion are natural, but responding to disagreement with violence and spreading regional hatred is against democracy.”Police have maintained that no student was manhandled during the detentions.(with PTI inputs)
