NEW DELHI: Tension gripped Jamia Millia Islamia University on Wednesday after groups of protesting students, allegedly joined by locals, vandalised campus gates, damaged CCTV infrastructure and pelted stones at university premises late Tuesday night.The university administration condemned the violence, saying the vandalism began shortly after another round of talks with protesting students, even as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit the campus later on Wednesday.
University gates vandalised, stones pelted
According to a statement issued by the university administration on Wednesday, members of the proctorial team and faculty rushed to the campus late Tuesday night after receiving reports of a breach of the boundary walls.On reaching the spot, they found that groups of protesters, allegedly accompanied by locals, had dismantled university gates, brought down Gate No. 4C and pelted stones at the premises.“Groups of protesting students along with locals vandalised university gates and walls, brought down Gate No. 4C, pelted stones, damaged the CCTV control room, cameras, and disrupted their connections,” the university said in its statement.
Masked protesters reach boys’ hostels, CCTV systems damaged
The administration said a group of masked protesters also reached the boys’ hostels in an attempt to mobilise additional support. Videos showing the damage to campus infrastructure were widely circulated on social media.University officials said heavy iron rods, hammers and other tools were used to damage key infrastructure, raising concerns over campus security.
University flags violence after talks with students
Condemning the escalation, the university administration highlighted what it described as a contradiction between the ongoing negotiations with protesters and the subsequent acts of vandalism.“Particularly disturbing is the stark contradiction between the protesting students’ engagement in negotiations with committee members and JMI teachers, yesterday evening being the 7th such attempt by the university administration to hold dialogue, and the acts of vandalism that began on campus shortly thereafter,” the varsity noted, adding that women faculty members, wardens, and provosts were threatened when attempting to reason with female protesters.The unrest comes amid continuing student agitation over various demands. The university administration said the latest round of discussions on Tuesday evening was its seventh attempt to engage with protesters.
Jamia shifts classes online amid campus tensions
Amid escalating tensions over the past week, Jamia Millia Islamia had announced the suspension of physical classes and shifted to online teaching from October 24.Police and campus security personnel have been deployed to prevent any further escalation, particularly ahead of the expected visit by Rahul Gandhi later on Wednesday.(With ANI inputs)
