Several Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students were detained outside the university campus on Thursday as they attempted to march to the Ministry of Education demanding the resignation and an apology from Vice-Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit over her alleged “casteist” remarks.
Among those detained were two JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) office-bearers and a former union president. Students alleged “police brutality”, claiming that multiple layers of barricades and a heavy police presence stopped them from leaving the campus despite large numbers gathering for the protest march.
The protest comes days after the V-C’s remarks during an interview where she can be heard saying, “You cannot progress by being permanently a victim or playing the victim card. This was done for the Blacks; the same thing was brought for Dalits here.”
DCP (South West) Amit Goel said JNUSU had called for a long march from the JNU to the Ministry but had been informed that the university administration had not granted permission and any protest should remain within the campus. Despite this, around 400-500 students gathered, began marching and managed to exit the main gate around 3.20 p.m.
Mr. Goel said the barricades were damaged and the “protest turned violent with students hurling sticks and shoes, and even biting police personnel, leaving several officers injured”.
