Fourteen students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were arrested on February 26 after a protest march organised by the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) ended in clashes with Delhi Police outside the campus. An FIR was lodged at Vasant Kunj North police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Those detained included current and former office-bearers of the union, among them president Aditi Mishra, vice-president Gopika Babu, former president Nitish Kumar and joint secretary Danish Ali. They were booked on charges including assault, obstructing public servants and causing hurt. All 14 were granted bail by a Delhi court the next morning.
The protest began as a “Long March” towards the Ministry of Education but was stopped at the university’s main gate after the administration denied permission to demonstrate outside campus. Police had erected barricades and deployed additional personnel in anticipation of the march. According to officials, tensions escalated when a group of students pushed through the barricades, allegedly damaging them and throwing objects at officers. Several police personnel, including senior officials, sustained injuries.
Student groups contested this account, accusing the police of using excessive force and claiming some protesters were detained without access to medical care. The union demanded the release of all students and sought the resignation of the vice-chancellor.
“Many of the students have also suffered serious injuries along with deteriorating health conditions, moreover the upcoming days come filled with court holidays as well. The very allowing of bail from the side of the magistrate categorically meant that the grounds of arrest and the logic of Delhi Police was not just flawed, but politically motivated,” JNUSU statement said.
The demonstrators raised multiple issues, including the revocation of rustication orders, implementation of the University Grants Commission’s Equity Regulations 2026 and greater public funding for higher education. They also cited alleged casteist remarks made by the vice-chancellor in a recent podcast.
The university administration maintained that implementation of the UGC regulations remains subject to a Supreme Court stay and alleged that the union was attempting to shift focus from earlier incidents of vandalism on campus. In a statement, it said the students had “refused to address the core issue” of disciplinary action linked to damage to university property.
