New Delhi: Delhi Police detained several students from Jamia Millia Islamia University on Tuesday during their indefinite protest on campus. The detentions took place between 3 to 4 pm as students gathered to oppose disciplinary actions taken by the university administration.
The protest was organized by several left-leaning student organizations, including the All India Students Association (AISA) and the All India Revolutionary Students Organization (AIRSO). The students were demanding the cancellation of disciplinary proceedings against two PhD researchers accused of organising a protest program in December 2024.
Jamia’s disciplinary committee to review roles of two PhD students
The disciplinary actions are linked to an event called “Jamia Resistance Day,” held annually to commemorate the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. During the 2019 protests, Delhi Police entered the university premises and reportedly baton-charged students in the library, which led to widespread criticism and outrage across the country.
The university’s disciplinary committee is scheduled to review the roles of the two PhD students on February 25. However, the protesting students have accused the administration of attempting to stifle dissent and campus activism. They see the proceedings as an “attack on campus democracy” and have urged the administration to engage in dialogue with them.
What Delhi Police said
Delhi Police, however, said that their actions were based on a request from the university administration. According to police officials, the university brought one of the protesters, identified as Neha, to the police station and informed them about the situation. According to Free Press Journal reports, Neha is the All-India President of AISA and was reportedly standing in solidarity with the demonstrators when she was detained.
In a statement, AISA strongly criticized the university administration, calling its actions undemocratic and authoritarian. They said that the protest on December 16, 2024, was a peaceful gathering to remember the events of 2019. Protesters displayed banners with slogans like “Dissent is the Legacy of Jamia” and “Restore Campus Democracy.”
The protesting students are demanding the cancellation of disciplinary proceedings against the two PhD students and an end to what they describe as a “crackdown on student activism.” The university administration has not yet responded to the demands.
