New Delhi: Over 10 students from Jamia Millia Islamia University were detained by Delhi Police early Thursday following protests against disciplinary action taken against two PhD scholars. The university had issued show-cause notices to the scholars for allegedly organizing a demonstration last year against its policies.
“We removed over 10 students at around 4 am after receiving a request from the university administration. Further, we have deployed heavy police security outside the campus to maintain law and order,” a police source said.
The protest by Jamia students began on Monday, with students condemning what they termed as the administration’s “crackdown on student activism.”
The students were specifically rallying against the actions taken against the two PhD scholars in connection with the December 2024 “Jamia Resistance Day” event, which marked the anniversary of the 2019 anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. “They have violated university rules and were found carrying objectionable contraband items. The university administration, taking a strong view of the damage to university property, defacement of walls, and obstruction of classes, has taken preventive measures to ensure academic activities continue as normal,” it added. According to police sources, the university requested the intervention of cops to remove the protesters from the site to prevent further disturbances.
A statement from the police confirmed that the detained students had been removed and that investigations were ongoing. The university also issued a statement, claiming the protest was unlawful, and accused the students of carrying “objectionable contraband items” and vandalizing university property. Despite an offer from the administration to discuss the students’ grievances through a committee, the protesters reportedly refused to engage with university officials, including the Supervisor, Head, and Dean.
In response, the university administration, with support from the Proctorial team, evicted the protesters from campus and requested police support to maintain order.
