JNU protest: 6 students booked, including 3 union office bearers
What's the story
The Delhi Police have registered a case against six students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), including three office bearers of the university's student union. The case was registered at Vasant Kunj North police station under Sections 221, 121(2), 132, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charged office bearers are Nitesh Kumar (President), Manisha (Vice President), and Munteha Fatima (General Secretary) of the JNUSU.
Protest escalation
Students 'bound down,' police
The case comes after a protest outside the Vasant Kunj police station turned violent. The police said the six students have been "bound down," while other detained students were held under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. These students will be handed over to university officials after a medical examination. The confrontation is an escalation of tensions that started last week at JNU's School of Social Sciences.
Rising tensions
Unrest at JNU campus
The unrest started when Left-affiliated student groups accused members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) of "hooliganism." The ABVP then alleged its members faced "regional hatred" and physical assault. Posters for a "social march for social justice" soon appeared on campus, mainly by Left groups under the hashtag #SOSJNU. The march was aimed at the Vasant Kunj North police station, demanding action against ABVP members over alleged attacks.
Protest standoff
Police version of incident
The police said they had been in touch with student leaders and ensured legal action, but alleged the union didn't withdraw its call for a gherao of the police station. Around 6:00pm on Thursday, around 70-80 students gathered at JNU's West Gate, according to the Delhi Police. Barricades were placed to restrict their movement toward Nelson Mandela Marg. The police accused this group of manhandling officers and using abusive language.
Brutality allegations
Situation at JNU
Left student groups, on the other hand, accused police of brutality and said those who complained were detained. One statement alleged that ABVP members used "casteist, Islamophobic and misogynistic abuses" against JNUSU leaders while police personnel stood by. The situation at JNU remains tense as both sides stand their ground over the recent events.