Tension escalates at Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Saturday ahead of a protest led by JNUSU demanding an FIR against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly for creating violence during campus meetings. The demand for FIR reportedly over an earlier attack during a General Body meeting on Dussehra claimed injuries to at least six police personnel and resulted in the detention of 28 students, including JNUSU President Nitish Kumar, Vice President Manisha, and General Secretary Muteha Fatima.
“A few days ago, ABVP members beat up the president badly, and despite that, an FIR wasn’t being registered. So, in protest, a march was taken out from the West Gate. However, during this march, some people, who were probably police, started beating up the students,” a protesting student told FoEJ Media.
“They loaded 28 students into a van, including girls, and all the police officers were male. Some students were beaten so badly that they were screaming in pain,” he added.
A senior officer told TNN, “Despite repeated requests, the students forcefully pushed through and broke the barricades, manhandled police personnel, used abusive language, and moved onto Nelson Mandela Marg, causing temporary obstruction of traffic.”
“While ABVP held JNUSU office bearers hostage during the SSS GBM, the police remained silent spectators. When students marched towards the Vasant Kunj Thana demanding action, police brutally attacked them at the West Gate, kicking and punching them, and several students were detained and subsequently taken to Kapashera Police Station,” Nitish Kumar, JNUSU President, said in a video message.
“Leftist students began spreading false stories, tearing their shirts, and staging drama to portray themselves as victims,” an ABVP statement read.
