Members of the All India Students Association (AISA) were detained on Monday, 11 April, after students staged a protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters against the violence that broke out in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday night.
The police said that AISA members had gathered around Jai Singh Road, New Delhi, against the mandate of Section 144 CrPC in force in the area. Since they did not leave when they were asked to, a total of 70 people were detained across three police stations – Tughlak Road, Chanakyapuri, and Parliament Street. They were later released, the cops said, adding that a case under Sections 188 and 323 IPC is being registered.
Further, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was called in to contain the situation.
"AISA activists who came to protest at the Delhi Police Headquarters have been violently detained. Women protesters were manhandled by male personnel, their clothes pulled. Several have been injured by the Delhi Police. We have been detained inside Tughlaq Road Police Station."All India Students Association
"Where was this police when ABVP barged into JNU and attacked students?" a statement by AISA said.
Speaking to The Quint, Dhatri, a student of MA Sociology at JNU, said, "We are protesting against the blatant assault on women and common students of JNU. We are here because the Delhi Police has a history of being inactive when it comes to incidents of violence on campus. We want action."
Clashes had broken out between students of JNU on Sunday night over the serving of non-vegetarian food on Ram Navami, with AISA and JNU Students' Union alleging that the ABVP had assaulted students who were on the mess committee.
Meanwhile, student protests over the unrest in JNU have been reported in other parts of the country as well.
Lucknow University Students Protest Against 'ABVP Hooliganism' in JNU
Students of the Lucknow University marched against "the ABVP hooliganism" on JNU campus, a press statement by the students of the university said.
"Today, on 11 April, students of Lucknow University carried out a protest march against the hooliganism and violence that has been inflicted upon student in JNU campus yesterday by RSS-affiliated student organisation ABVP [sic]," a statement said.
AISA Lucknow president, Prachi, said, "Resistance that was shown by students of JNU yesterday is not only against imposition of some food code on people but to save the cultural diversity amidst rising incidents of communal hatred and fascistic onslaughts in our country."
NSUI LU unit Convenor Vishal also condemned the incident.
What Happened in JNU on Sunday Night?
The JNU Students' Association (JNUSU) has blamed the ABVP for "forcing and attacking the mess committee to change the dinner menu and exclude the usual non-vegetarian items in it for all students." On the other hand, the ABVP has accused 'leftists' of creating a ruckus and obstructing a Ram Navami pooja celebration.
"ABVP goons have created a violent atmosphere in Kaveri hostel today. They are forcing and attacking the mess committee to change the dinner menu and exclude the usual non-vegetarian items in it for all students. The menu has food items for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian students who can consume it based on their personal choice."JNUSU
"The auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, residents of Kaveri Hostel, JNU had organised a pooja to celebrate the event. This event was supposed to be joined by a large number of common students of JNU. It is also noteworthy that Ramzan is being celebrated in the hostel very peacefully and simultaneously. This pooja was supposed to start at 3.30, but due to the ruckus created by leftists it could only start at 5.00 PM."ABVP
The Delhi Police has filed an FIR against unknown ABVP students under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 509 (Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman) 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) a probe is on to evidence and identify culprits.
Meanwhile, the JNU administration said on Monday that it would "not tolerate" any violence on campus.
What Do Students Have to Say?
Nivash Prakash, a PhD student at JNU, said that there had been traces of the violence since lunchtime when non-vegetarian food was being cooked in the mess.
He said, "Later on, people from ABVP turned up and started attacking those in the mess committee and the mess manager. Hence, a few activists and students went to stand up for them. When that happened, we were blocked and they started attacking us."
He added that there was stone-pelting as well. He injured a finger and sustained minor head injuries. He said that there were parallels to the 5 January violence in 2020.
Meanwhile, ABVP President Rohit Kumar narrated a different version of the incident. He said, "It was not a veg vs non-veg issue. It was merely an attempt to stop our pooja."
"Everything had been peaceful. A pooja had been organised three days ago but a few outsiders came and told us that they won't let it happen." He claimed that students and activists from left organisations entered when the pooja was taking place and started attacking them.
He added, "Students could have gone to the warden if they had an issue. Why did so many from outside turn up? It was obvious that they wanted to stop our pooja on the day of Ram Navami."
The FIRs Filed By the Police
The Delhi Police had filed an FIR against unknown ABVP students under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 509 (Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman) 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) a probe is on to evidence and identify culprits.
The complaint was filed by student members of JNU Students Union (JNUSU), SFI (Students Federation of India), DSF (Democratic Students' Federation), and AISA early on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, a case has also been filed by the ABVP against unidentified members of JNUSU, SFI, and DSF over the clashes.
The FIR filed on the complaint filed by ABVP is registered under IPC Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), and 509 (act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Further investigation is underway to collect more evidence and identify the culprits, the cops said.
Meanwhile, the JNU administration said on Monday that it will "not tolerate" any violence on campus.
In two separate statements, the administration said that the clashes ensued after several students objected to the organisation of havan in the campus. It also said that there was no bar on eating non-vegetarian food.
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