Tension continued at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in New Delhi on Wednesday, a day after the university said protesting students and locals damaged campus property late on Tuesday night. The university made the claims in an official statement.
The unrest comes during a week-long student agitation over several demands. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is expected to visit the campus later in the day.
What the university says happened
According to the administration, the proctorial team and faculty members went to the campus late on Tuesday after getting reports that a boundary wall had been breached. On reaching, they found that gates had been dismantled and Gate No. 4C had been brought down.
The university alleged that protesting groups, joined by outsiders, had also thrown stones at the premises.
The CCTV control room and cameras were damaged, and their connections were disrupted, the statement said. Officials added that heavy iron rods, hammers and other tools were used, which has weakened security on the campus.
The university also said a group of masked protesters went to the boys’ hostels to try to gather more people. Videos of the damage have been widely shared on social media.
Questions over talks
The administration pointed to the timing of the incident. Tuesday evening was the seventh time it had sat down with the protesting students, along with committee members and teachers.
According to the university, the vandalism began soon after that round of talks ended.
It also alleged that women faculty members, wardens and provosts were threatened when they tried to speak to the female protesters. The university condemned the incident in strong words.
Classes moved online
Because of the rising tension, JMI had already suspended physical classes on October 24 and shifted teaching to online mode.
Police and campus security personnel have been deployed at the university to prevent any fresh trouble, particularly with high-profile political visits expected.
The statement carries the university administration’s version of events. The protesting students’ side was not part of the statement released by the university.
