Police personnel detain an SFI activist during a protest against the detention of four activists over the proposed screening of BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Jamia Millia Islamia, in New Delhi on January 25, 2023. , Photo Credit: PTI
A day after students at Jawaharlal Nehru University went on a rampage over watching a controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police detained 13 students ahead of a screening of the documentary on the campus of Jamia Milla Islamia University . Wednesday evening.
Police said that no screening took place in Jamia. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Isha Pandey said that 13 students were detained around 4 pm to ensure peace in the area, adding that the university administration had informed the police that students were creating ruckus in the area. were. Heavy police deployment was seen in the area ahead of Republic Day.
The Jamia administration had warned that disciplinary action would be taken if the documentary was shown without permission. “It has come to the knowledge of the University Administration that some students belong to a political organization – SFI [or the Students Federation of India]The university campus has distributed a poster about the screening of a controversial documentary film today. ,[The] The administration has earlier issued a memorandum and circular and once again reiterated that no meeting or gathering of students or screening of any film will be allowed without the permission of the competent authority, failing which strict action will be taken against the organisers. Disciplinary action will be taken.
‘Vested interests’
The statement further said that all possible measures were taken to deter people and organizations having vested interests in destroying the peaceful academic atmosphere of the university.
According to the students, the screening was to begin at 6 pm near the lawns of the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre. However, entry to the lawns was denied by the administration. The students had proposed to hold a protest at 4 pm, for which the Delhi Police refused permission. Some students raised slogans, following which the police took them into custody.
JMI Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar told the Press Trust of India, “SFI wants to disturb peace on campus; Will never allow this behavior.
JNUSU, ABVP complain to police
Chaos and violence broke out in parts of JNU on Tuesday as students gathered to watch documentaries on their mobile phones due to a power failure on the campus. Several students were injured in stone pelting by unidentified persons. Though two police control room (PCR) vans were stationed outside the campus, the police had said that no complaint had been received.
On Wednesday, a senior police officer said they had received two complaints at the Vasant Kunj North police station, one from the left-wing JNU Students’ Union, which had planned the screening, and the other from the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, both in JNU in connection with the incident. Both sides alleged that their members were attacked.
“We have received complaints and are probing the matter. Several videos have surfaced on social media, which will also be looked into and the persons identified, the official said. No FIR has been registered so far.