BBC documentary: Students detained during protest over Delhi University action
Around 25 people were demonstrating near the Vivekananda statue at the Faculty of Arts, according to the All India Students’ Association (AISA), which organised the protest
At least 11 students were detained on Friday during an agitation at North Campus of the Delhi University against the recent debarment of two others in connection with the screening of a controversial documentary, police said.
Around 25 people were demonstrating near the Vivekananda statue at the Faculty of Arts, according to the All India Students’ Association (AISA), which organised the protest.
While AISA said that all those part of the protest were DU students, varsity officials claimed that the group also included outsiders and they had gathered without due permission.
Those detained were released hours later, police officers said.
“On the request of Delhi University authorities, nine male and two female students were removed from near Vivekananda statue. Reportedly, they were gathering there to protest in support of some students, who were expelled due to indiscipline. We took them to Burari police station, from where they were released after two hours. No FIR has been lodged as of now in this regard,” said Sagar Singh Kalsi, deputy commissioner of police (north).
On March 10, the university barred two students, including a Congress students’ wing leader, for a year for allegedly participating in a screening of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary titled The Modi Question on the 2002 Gujarat riots. The screening was organised on January 27.
“During this period, the students will not be allowed to take any university or college or departmental examination,” according to a memorandum issued by the university.
AISA secretary, Anjali (single name), said that the students had gathered against the “arbitrary” debarment of the two students, and alleged that the two had been brutally beaten, manhandled and detained. “This exposes the nexus of the police and DU administration. We will not be silenced by such measures. Our protest to protect our campus’s democracy, dissent will continue until the notice is withdrawn,” she said.
A press statement issued by AISA in this regard alleged that there was heavy police deployment at the agitation area. “The CRPF was deployed along with security guards to violently beat, manhandle and detain students. Students were taken to Burari police station and released at 4pm. This impunity given to the police in Delhi University is ever expanding which poses a larger threat to campus democracy,” it read.
DU Proctor Rajni Abbi said that the protesters also included outsiders. “They started protesting inside the Arts Faculty without giving due information to the police. Any unlawful gathering is not permitted in the campus,” she said.