Motilal Nehru College (Evening) faculty begin indefinite strike over alleged DUSU violence

Faculty members of Motilal Nehru College (Evening) have begun an indefinite strike over alleged incidents of assault on teachers, hooliganism, trespassing and damage to public property during campaigning for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, the college teachers' association said on Thursday.

The Staff Association said the protest began on Wednesday and would continue until its concerns were addressed.

Representatives of the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) and teachers from several other Delhi University colleges are also expected to join the protest in solidarity, it said.

"Until further notice, all teachers from the college have joined the strike and all academic activities have been suspended from our side," a faculty member said.

The protest follows an incident on September 16, the final day of DUSU election campaigning, when a teacher at the college was allegedly assaulted by a student campaigning for the polls.

Faculty members had protested at the college following the incident and demanded action against the student. A teacher had alleged that the faculty member was beaten and grievously injured.

The teachers had also announced that they would file an FIR and boycott election-related duties, saying faculty members could not be subjected to violence during the election process.

At the time, teachers said they were not immediately certain which student organisation the alleged campaigner was associated with.

"The administration or police are not interested in taking any action. But this cannot continue, so we will be on indefinite strike till the incident is addressed," another faculty member said.

Polling for the DUSU elections was held on September 18, followed by counting on September 19.

The latest protest has also brought renewed attention to security arrangements and student conduct during election-related activities on the university campus.

The Staff Association has called for the alleged incidents and its concerns over faculty safety to be addressed and sought support from teachers and other stakeholders.