Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s planned visit to Jamia Millia Islamia was cancelled on Wednesday amid heightened tensions on campus, where the administration alleged that protesting students and local residents vandalised university property, damaged CCTV infrastructure, and brought down Gate No. 4C late Tuesday night.
The student agitation, which began on October 12, has continued despite the administration’s decision to resume students’ union elections after nearly two decades. Students have demanded a definite timeline for the polls, approval of the union’s constitution within a fixed period and the withdrawal of disciplinary action against protesters. Some students have also been on an indefinite hunger strike.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the university alleged that groups of protesting students, accompanied by locals, damaged university property and brought down Gate No. 4C, which connects the boys’ hostel area to the main campus.
“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.
The administration said its proctorial team and faculty members rushed to the campus late Tuesday night after receiving reports of damage to the boundary walls. It further alleged that a group of masked protesters reached the boys’ hostels to mobilise additional support.
The university claimed that videos, CCTV footage and social media posts indicated that heavy iron rods, hammers and other tools had been used to damage infrastructure. It also alleged that women faculty members, wardens and provosts were threatened when they attempted to reason with female protesters.
Jamia University Alleges Vandalism Despite Talks With Students
The administration expressed concern over what it described as a contradiction between negotiations with protesters and the alleged destruction that followed. It said Tuesday evening’s meeting was its seventh attempt to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
“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 said.
The university said the incidents followed a week of repeated instances of gates and boundary walls being scaled, damaged or broken. It added that damage to classrooms, laboratories, libraries, entrances, exits and security systems could compromise the safety of students and staff and cause significant financial losses.
Why Are Jamia Students Protesting?
The protests centre on demands to restore the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU), which has not held elections since 2006, according to reports.
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Although the university administration announced that elections would be held within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution, protesters have continued their agitation, arguing that the administration has not provided a definite timeline for completing the process.
Students have also raised concerns over restrictions on campus access, the closure of canteens and libraries, and disciplinary action against student activists. Gate No. 4C has become a major point of contention because hostel residents use it to access the main campus.
The university shifted classes online from October 24 amid escalating tensions. Restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were also imposed in the area outside the campus.