Jamia varsity seeks action against cops who entered campus

NEW DELHI: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) wrote to Delhi Police on Sunday demanding action against cops who allegedly entered the premises without their permission, a day after students protested against what they termed as a “police raid”.

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However, the university said Saturday’s checking was not a raid by the police or the Intelligence Bureau.

“Taking exception to the plainclothes Delhi Police personnel entering Jamia Millia Islamia premises without per mission, the university authorities have written to the Delhi Police demanding suitable action against the erring personnel,” the University said in an official statement.

Police said it was a routine check ahead of Independence Day on Monday.

On Sunday, students from JMI and other universities protested, alleging that Delhi Police conducted “surprise checks” in their hostels.

In a statement the students said ,“We believe that these“routine” police visits are actually part and parcel of the stereotyping of the University in particular and the Jamia locality in general”.

It further said, “It’s shameful that the administration allowed the police to enter the University premises without properly asking for the grounds for such a visit ... we students can’t be kept under constant surveillance and made scapegoats for anti-minority propaganda”.

In a separate appeal to the students, the dean of students’ welfare, Tasneem Meenai, said that no raid was conducted in the Hall of Residence for Boys by police or Intelligence Bureau.

She said that deputy commissioner of police (southeast) was requested to take suitable action against the defaulting police personnel and appealed to the students to maintain calm on the campus. “We should work constructively to protect the image of the university,” she said.

JMI chief proctor, Mehtab Alam, wrote to the DCP (south-east), urging him to identify the cops involved in the incident and take suitable action against them. He also said that police staff should be advised to follow the chief proctor’s instructions on the university campus.