New Delhi: In a tense turn of events at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi Police detained 28 students on Saturday, including JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) President Nitish Kumar, Vice President Manisha, and General Secretary Munteha Fatima.
The students were marching towards the Vasant Kunj police station in South Delhi to protest the alleged assault of students by members of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Goel said that around 70-80 students left the campus at approximately 6 pm to gherao the police station. Barricades were erected to stop them, leading to clashes in which six police personnel were injured.
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Students Claim Police Excessive Force
The detained students alleged that ABVP members had previously attacked their peers and that police personnel used excessive force to stop their march. “We were exercising our democratic right to protest peacefully, but were beaten at the West Gate,” one student leader said.
Delhi Police, however, dismissed these claims, saying that the situation escalated when students refused to disperse and confronted security personnel.
Background: Violence During GBM
The clashes followed a violent incident on Friday during a general body meeting (GBM) of the School of Social Sciences. Conflicting narratives emerged: Left-affiliated student groups alleged that ABVP members had grabbed a woman student by the throat and assaulted several others.
In contrast, ABVP claimed that Left-wing students attacked a woman student and physically assaulted others during the meeting.
An ABVP statement said, “Leftist students began spreading false stories, tearing their shirts, and staging drama to portray themselves as victims.”
JNUSU Elections and Rising Tensions
The unrest comes ahead of the JNUSU elections, scheduled next month. Student leaders expressed concern that repeated clashes could create an atmosphere of fear and interfere with the electoral process. Both Left-affiliated and ABVP student groups have called for calm, though tensions remain high.
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Authorities Step Up Security
Police have assured strict action to maintain law and order on campus and nearby areas. Additional personnel have been deployed, and officials are closely monitoring student movements to prevent further escalation.
With elections approaching and political divisions deepening, the situation at JNU remains delicate. Observers note that handling the protests and addressing the grievances of all student groups will be crucial in ensuring campus safety and a peaceful electoral process.
Meanwhile, the detention of key student leaders has intensified discussions around rights, campus security, and the role of political affiliations in student life.