JNU students detained after police clash

Police said that despite assurances of looking into their case, students turned aggressive and manhandled personnel, due to which they detained 28 students

New Delhi

Six police personnel were injured and sent for medical examination. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A protest by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students’ Union (JNUSU) and Leftist student organisations turned tense on Saturday, after student groups accused the Delhi police of “police brutality”, when they were marching to demand an FIR against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) over alleged violence on campus during general body meetings.

Police, however, said that despite assurances of looking into their case, students turned aggressive and manhandled personnel, due to which they detained 28 students. They said six police personnel were injured and sent for medical examination.

The All India Students’ Association (AISA) alleged that JNUSU president Nitish Kumar and several students were “brutally beaten up” and detained by police at the JNU West Gate. “Nitish and other JNU students have been abducted by the Delhi Police and taken to Kapasera,” it said.

A senior police officer said, “At around 6pm, approximately 70–80 students gathered at the West Gate of JNU. Police barricades were placed to restrict their movement towards Nelson Mandela Marg. Despite repeated requests, the students forcefully pushed through and broke the barricades, manhandled police personnel, used abusive language, and came onto Nelson Mandela Marg, leading to temporary obstruction of traffic.”