Agitating Jamia students demand statement from V-C on hostel raid

Students of the Jamia Millia Islamia continued their protest on Tuesday, demanding an explanation from the vice-chancellor as to why the Delhi Police raided the boys’ hostels.

They sought the university to declare its “autonomy” and ensure that action is taken against the police, including the Central intelligence officials, if they had conducted the raids on August 13 without prior permission from the university administration. A section of Jamia teachers also extended support to the students’ agitation.

“Our first demand is that the vice-chancellor should hold a press briefing and tell everyone why the police raided the hostels and who facilitated their entry, if they did not have permission from the university administration.

“We also want action to be taken against the police officers concerned for creating an atmosphere of terror here,” Amber, one of the student protesters, said.

On Monday, vice-chancellor Talat Ahmad asked the students not to become a “pawn” in the hands of “people with vested interests”. He asked them to maintain peace and not make Jamia a “political battleground”.

He, however, maintained that the presence of the police on campus on August 13 was part of a routine check ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, and categorically said the officers “never entered the hostel premises”. But students were not willing to accept the vice-chancellor’s explanation.