Chaos erupted outside the gates of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Thursday as a planned "Long March" to the Ministry of Education spiralled into violent clashes between students and security forces. The confrontation left approximately 25 police officers and a significant number of students injured, with the university campus transformed into a virtual fortress by evening. As a result, huge deployment was seen outside JNU on Friday morning.
The march, organised by the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU), was called to protest against the recent rustication of student leaders and to demand the implementation of specific UGC norms. Despite police warnings that no permission had been granted for the demonstration outside campus grounds, hundreds of students attempted to breach barricades at around 3:20 pm.
The situation turned ugly as tensions peaked. Footage from the scene purportedly shows protesters scuffling with police, while senior officers alleged that their personnel were subjected to physical assault, including being bitten and hit with sticks. "Barricades were damaged as the situation escalated," a senior police officer told the media, adding that banners and shoes were hurled at the ranks. In total, 14 students have been arrested and over 50 detained.
The legal fallout has been swift. During a court hearing, the prosecution argued that the protest was far from peaceful, citing four prior FIRs against the accused. The court took a dim view of the events, noting that "assault on police officials is serious and cannot be permitted under the garb of a peaceful protest."
However, the students have presented a very different version of events. The police have been accused of "brute force". The JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) has also reacted to the situation, showing concern over reports that some of the arrested students have been taken to "unconfirmed locations".
The JNU administration, on the other hand, has been very strict in its claim that the protest is only a "diversion". In a statement, the university has stated that the students' demands regarding UGC rules are already stayed by the Supreme Court, and therefore the Vice Chancellor is unable to do anything about it. The administration further lamented the "deplorable" attacks on the Vice Chancellor, suggesting they were intended to distract from the "vandalism and violence" that led to the original disciplinary actions.
As heavy police deployment continues to ring the campus, the standoff between the student body and the administration appears further from a resolution than ever.
Also read: Protest against VC turns violent in JNU
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