Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 19: Tensions flared at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Saturday as at least 28 students were detained during a protest march to the Vasant Kunj police station in South Delhi. Six police personnel were injured in a scuffle that broke out when the students attempted to breach barricades near the campus gate.
The march was organised by Left-affiliated members of the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU), who accused police of failing to act on a complaint lodged by JNUSU president Nitish Kumar. Kumar had alleged that he was physically assaulted, held hostage, and subjected to casteist slurs by members of the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after a university meeting to select the election committee for the upcoming union polls.
In response, the ABVP accused Left-affiliated students of resorting to violence and making discriminatory remarks against students from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Police said they were aware of the planned protest and had been in touch with student representatives, assuring them that legal action would be taken. However, the students refused to withdraw their call for a “gherao” of the Vasant Kunj North police station.
According to a senior officer, around 6 pm, nearly 70 to 80 students gathered at JNU’s West Gate. “Despite repeated requests, the students forcefully pushed through barricades, manhandled police personnel, and caused temporary obstruction of traffic on Nelson Mandela Marg,” the officer said.
To prevent escalation, police detained 28 protesters — 19 men and nine women — including JNUSU president Nitish Kumar, vice president Manisha, and general secretary Muntia Fatima. During the scuffle, six police personnel, including two women, sustained minor injuries and were taken for medical examination.
Students, however, alleged that police resorted to force, dragging and beating several of them before detaining them. Police denied the charges, stating that no student was manhandled during the operation.
Reacting to the incident, JNUSU joint secretary Vaibhav Meena, affiliated with ABVP, said, “This incident was an insult to the dignity of JNU. Differences of opinion are natural, but responding with violence and spreading regional hatred goes against the spirit of democracy.”
The situation on campus remains tense as both Left and ABVP factions continue to trade accusations ahead of the upcoming JNUSU elections.