New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS): After a viral video footage of police assaulting students in the Jamia Millia Islamia library on the night of December 15, the varsity has distanced itself from the video.
In a statement issued to media, the varsity said, "It has come to our notice that some video with regard to police brutality in Dr Zakir Husain Library of the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is in circulation. This is to clarify that the video has not been released by the university."
Further in the statement, the varsity also clarified that the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) which has been spearheading the anti-CAA protest outside Jamia's gate number 7 was not an official body of the university.
"This is to clarify that JCC is not an official body of the university," Jamia said in the statement.
"Any communication from JCC should not be taken as communication from the university," the university added.
The said video was allegedly circulated on JCC's official WhatsAap group.
The latest footage which surfaced on Saturday night, shows police personnel purportedly barging into the library at Jamia Millia Islamia, following protests that ended in arson and stone pelting following anti-CAA protests in the region.
Jamia releases video showing cops assaulting students in library
Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 16: The Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) has released a shocking video that purportedly shows the brutality of police and paramilitary forces who caned students studying in Jamia Millia Islamia library.
The incident had happened on December 15 and the video was captured on CCTV. The 48-second video released by JCC on Sunday February 16, purportedly shows around eight paramilitary and police personnel on a rampage. They enter the Old Reading Hall and start caning students and alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia who were studying in the library.
The police had entered the university to look for outsiders who were involved in incidents of violence in an anti-CAA rally. According to the police, the protesters had entered into the university campus to escape.
While Twitterati is condemning the police for its brutality, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) Praveer Ranjan has acknowledged that the video has come to his notice and a probe will be initiated.
Priyanka Gandhi attacks govt over purported Jamia video
IANS
A purported video has been leaked online about the December 15 Jamia incident that shows men in uniform beating up students inside a library. Not just social media but political reactions have also started pouring in since early Sunday.
The video has been shared by many, including the Jamia Coordination Committee of the protesting students and the teachers.
The Twitter handle of the Jamia Millia Islamia said: "Watch this and realise what kind of trauma and brutality the JMI students faced at the hands of the Delhi Police.. students have been brutalised for no fault."
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted the video and wrote: "See how Delhi Police is thrashing the students. One boy is showing his book, but the policeman is beating him. Union Home Minister and Delhi Police have lied that they did not enter the library. After watching this video, if no action is taken, then the motive of this government is exposed before the country."
In the video, men in uniform are seen entering the library that students say is the Old Reading Hall of the M.A/M.Phill Section and beating the students, who were sitting and studying.
Jamia administration has refused to comment on the video as the matter is in the court, while Delhi Police Joint Commissioner of Police Pravir Ranjan has also refused to comment on its authenticity and the matter is being probed.
On December 15, just days after the Citizenship Bill was passed students and locals while taking out an anti-CAA protest rally had gone on a rampage and burnt buses, after which the police resorted to lathi-charge, Delhi Police had said.
The case has been with the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police.
The University had approached the police for filing an FIR against the erring police personnel responsible for the brutality. The Jamia Millia Islamia administration had also filed a case in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate, who has directed the Delhi Police to file action taken report by March 16.