NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Congress MPs Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi, and others, after Jamia Millia Islamia accused them of trespassing on campus and inciting unrest during an ongoing student protest, police sources told PTI.
University authorities had filed a formal complaint against Lok Sabha MP Masood, Rajya Sabha MP Pratapgarhi and others, alleging they entered the campus without authorisation to meet protesting students.
Jamia Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi alleged that Masood crossed a wall to enter the premises while Pratapgarhi broke a lock, the Times of India reported, citing news agency ANI.
There was no response from Delhi Police to the allegations.
The Students' Federation of India, Jamia unit, alleged that hundreds of police personnel detained students outside Gate No. 7. It said authorities were targeting those demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union.
In a social media post, the SFI described the situation as a crackdown on students and demanded an end to the detentions.
The development came a day after the university shifted all classes online, citing concerns over student safety during escalating tensions at the protest site. The university also directed students to avoid visiting the campus and said its gates and libraries would remain closed until further notice.
On Saturday, more than 1,500 teaching and non-teaching staff, along with Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif and Registrar Rizvi, marched from the Ansari Auditorium lawns to Gate No. 7 to persuade the protesting students to call off their agitation.
The university said staff made repeated appeals for over two hours, but the protesters refused to vacate the site. It alleged that some students pushed security guards, staff members and teachers, after which the staff withdrew.
The SFI's Jamia unit, however, alleged that university officials, including the proctor, registrar and security adviser, tried to forcibly remove protesters on hunger strike, dismantled their tents and dragged women students during the confrontation.
A student at the protest site alleged that police personnel were deployed in large numbers outside the campus, with some students prevented from entering and others detained. These allegations could not be independently verified.
The protest began nearly two weeks ago over the demand to restore the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union, with students pointing out that elections have not been held since 2006. Four students have been on an indefinite hunger strike, while PhD scholar Sanam has been sitting in at the Gulistan-e-Ghalib lawns in protest, the SFI said.
Students have also raised concerns over attendance policies, hostel facilities, scholarships and research stipends, the Times of India reported.
(With inputs from PTI)