By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: In a shocking turn of events this evening, Jamia Nagar police lathi charged on the students of Mass Communication Research Center (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia, sitting on hunger strike. Around 20 students of MCRC, most of them girls, were manhandled and slapped by the Jamia Nagar police men as it’s quite evident from the video attached to this story.
More than 70 students have been sitting on the hunger strike since May 7, protesting against the denial of medical relaxations to them allegedly because of discriminatory behavior by the university, resulting in them being debarred from sitting in the examinations.
It’s all started when the students tried to put temporary small tent in order to save themselves from the scorching heat as one of the girls sitting on the hunger strike, Sania’s became unconscious. Within few moments policemen from the Jamia Nagar police station led by the SHO descended on them, stopping them from putting up the small tent.
The situation turned worse when the police men started slapping and manhandling the students most of them girls, 4 boys and two girls sustained injuries. They were abused, slapped, punched and kicked. Notably, there were only one female police personnel, who stood by while her male colleagues indulged in physical and verbal violence. Even the parents of the injured students allege being misbehaved by the SHO. Four students were picked up and taken to the police station but later were released after their medical examination at the AIIMS Trauma Center.
Jamia guards assaulting female students of MCRC
The Jamia Nagaar police interestingly, didn’t have any official stand as to who ordered this kind of blatant attack on the democratic rights of students to protest peacefully. Even ACP Data Ram refused to comment on the whole episode. He feigned ignorance in a typical police style saying that, “we are investigating the whole issue.”
Ironically the police which started the scuffle didn’t have any idea on order it was being done. The protesting students allege that every thing was done on the unofficial instruction of the VC, Jung, who is known for his autocratic style of functioning.
More importantly there was no university representative on the scene. Every attempt of TwoCircles.net to contact the Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jang, went without any response.
Meanwhile, the protesting students are planning to file an FIR against the SHO and those responsible behind the manhandling.
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Saba one of the protesting students said, “We will be filing an FIR tonight against policemen behind the attack on democratic style of peaceful protest.”