Amidst the ongoing election dispute in Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a clash broke out between students and Delhi Police on Saturday evening. According to the information, students associated with the Left were going to march towards Vasant Kunj North police station (PS Vasant Kunj North), but the police stopped them at JNU West Gate.
During this, there was a scuffle between the students and the police, after which the police took 28 students into custody. These include 19 male and 9 female students.
According to Delhi Police, JNU Students Union President Nitish Kumar, Vice President Manisha and General Secretary Muntiya Fatima are also among the detained students. Police said that around 6 pm, 70–80 students gathered at the West Gate and tried to protest without permission.
The police had already barricaded the area so that the students did not move towards Nelson Mandela Marg, but they tried to move ahead by breaking the barricade. During this, students scuffled with policemen and many used abusive language. Police said that while controlling the situation, six policemen, four men and two women, were injured, who were sent for first aid.
Students accused the police
Left organizations of JNU allege that the police is protecting the students of ABVP, a student organization affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and is not taking any action against them. Students said that on the day of Dussehra, there was a clash between left and right wing students in the JNU campus, but the police took only unilateral action.
The police said that they were in constant communication with the leaders of the student organizations and had assured them of action as per the legal process, but they did not withdraw their declaration of “siege”. Because of this, he had to be taken into custody so that any untoward incident could be avoided.
At present, the police have started legal action regarding the incident and preparations are underway to register a case. The university administration has also appealed to the students to behave peacefully.
—- End —-
