In a significant development, 28 students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were taken into custody by the Delhi police on Saturday. The detentions occurred as the students were participating in a protest march towards the Vasant Kunj police station in South Delhi.
The detained students have come forward with allegations that they were subjected to assault by the police during the confrontation. Reports also indicate that six police personnel sustained injuries during the clash. The students claim the physical altercation took place at the JNU West Gate.
Among those detained are prominent student leaders, including JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Nitish Kumar, Vice President Manisha, and General Secretary Munteha Fatima.
The protest was reportedly initiated by the students following a lack of action against members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), an organization affiliated with the RSS. The students claim that ABVP members allegedly assaulted some of their peers.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Goel stated that approximately 70 to 80 students were involved in the march, which began around 6 pm with the intention of surrounding the Vasant Kunj police station. A scuffle ensued when the students were stopped at the police station’s gate.
Mr. Goel further explained that the situation escalated into a clash when the police attempted to halt the protesters by erecting barricades.
Sources within the Delhi police, as reported by India Today, indicated that the protest at the Vasant Kunj police station was organized without official authorization.
This incident follows recent reports of violence during a general body meeting at JNU’s School of Social Sciences on Friday. Left-affiliated student groups alleged that ABVP members physically assaulted students, including grabbing a female student by the throat. The ABVP, conversely, has accused Left-affiliated students of attacking a female student and others.
The JNU Students’ Union elections are anticipated to take place next month. The All India Students’ Association (AISA) issued a statement suggesting that the ABVP is likely to face defeat in these upcoming elections, attributing the recent violence to the ABVP’s attempts to disrupt the electoral process.