Agitation in Jamia turns violent, students clash with police, 60 injured, 3 DTC buses torched
The protest against the amended Citizenship Act (CAA) by the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University students erupted on Sunday. Violence spilled on the Mathura Road, Jamia and its adjoining areas following a clash between police and students who were protesting against the amended CAA. The student protest is said to be led by the local leaders of the area. Three buses of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and four fire engines were damaged by the protesters, claimed the police.
Acording to report, at least 60 people were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.
Delhi Police personnel entered the Jamia Millia campus after situation became highly volatile in the wake of intense violence. Police blocked the university gates to nab some “outsiders” who had entered the premises to hide, sources said. There was a heavy deployment of police in and around the campus. Several metro stations were closed, including Jamia Millia, GTB Nagar, Shivaji Stadium, Patel Chowk and Vishwavidyalaya metro stations.
Later, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia announced closure of all schools in South Delhi following the incident.
Later a demonstration at Delhi Police headquarters was held after police crackdown at Jamia. Both the Jamia Millia students’ community as well as the Teachers’ Association have disassociated themselves with the violence and arson that took place near the university on Sunday afternoon. Three public buses and a fire tender were set afire by the protesters during the violence and arson at New Friends Colony.
The students claimed that “certain” local elements had “disrupted” their protest and indulged in violence.
The sources said as the police tried to disperse the protesters by baton charge and firing tear gas shells, some of the “outsiders” ran towards the campus and tried to hide there. While, a group of Jamia students sitting on the protest said police baton charged them when they were holding a peaceful protest. A Delhi Fire Services official said four fire tenders were rushed to the spot. “One fire tender was completely damaged and two personnel were injured,” said a senior police deployed on the protest site.
While, National secretary National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Saimon Farooqui, said, “The protesters were peacefully sitting on Mathura Road when policemen tried to “trouble” a couple of protesters, who resisted.
Thereafter, police started lathi charging the protesters and using teargas,” he alleged.
While other students claimed that the police forcefully entered the campus and fired tear gas on Students. “Students are hiding inside washroom. This is barbaric on part of Delhi Police,” they claimed.
However, a group of students and Jamia Milia Islamia Teachers Association (JTA) condemn the ongoing violence at Jamia and on the Mathura road. The students also claimed that the students groups have nothing to do with the violence. They alleged that “local elements” joined the protest and “disrupted” it.
“The students of Jamia Millia Islamia disassociate themselves from the violence that has erupted today. We have time and again maintained that our protests are peaceful and non-violent. We stand by this approach and condemn any party involved in the violence. We have maintained clam even when students have been lathi-charged and some women protestors have been badly beaten up. Media personal are a witness to these events. Violence by certain elements is an attempt to vilify and discredit genuine protests. We appeal to everyone to share this message,” said a group of students.
While the teachers association of Jamia, issued a statement saying, “Jamia Teachers’ Association condemn the violence in south Delhi, outside Jamia Millia Islamia. JTA is not part of any such violence. JTA also appeals to students, if any, to keep away from such direction-less protest lead by local political leaders. Jamia practices and preaches peace. JTA condemn all sort of violence near Jamia or anywhere in India.”
JTA has also called an emergence meeting of the extended Executive Committee on Monday to discuss misuse of Jamia’s name in the protests.
Witnessing the rage of protest, the Jamia Administration has postponed the semester examination and declared winter vacation. “A large number of students staying in hostels have already left and the Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar appealed to the students to maintain peace,” read the statement issued by the University.
“Police have entered the campus by force, no permission was given. Our staff and students are being beaten up and forced to leave the campus,” said Waseem Ahmed Khan, Chief Proctor, Jamia Millia Islamia University.
With the protest getting more violent in the parts South East Delhi, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also closed the entry and exit gates of Sukhdev Vihar metro station on Magenta Line and Gate Number three of Ashram Metro station on Pink Line.
“As advised by Delhi Police, entry & exit gates of Sukhdev Vihar and gate no. 3 of Ashram have been closed. Trains will not be halting at Sukhdev Vihar,” the DMRC tweeted. Entry and exit gates of Jamia Millia Islamia, Okhla Vihar and Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh have also been closed with no trains halting at these stations.