The protest, which had been ongoing since February 10, was triggered by the administration’s disciplinary action against students who participated in a December 2024 demonstration marking the fifth anniversary of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and the brutal police crackdown on JMI students in 2019. Protesters argued that the show-cause notices were a blatant attempt to silence student activism on campus.

University’s allegations and student denials

In a statement, the JMI administration accused the protesters of damaging university property, including the central canteen and the security advisor’s office, as well as defacing walls with slogans. The administration further alleged that the protesters carried “contraband objects” and disrupted academic activities.

“Official statement of JMI

A handful of students called for a protest, unlawfully gathering in the academic block since the evening of 10 Feb 2025. Since then, they have not only disturbed the peaceful conduct of classes in the academic block of the university but also prevented other students from accessing the Central Library, attending classes at a time when mid semester exams are about to begin at JMI campus.

These handful of students have in the last two days vandalised university property, including the central canteen and also broken the gate of the security advisor forcing the JMI administration to take action. They have violated other university rules and found carrying objectionable contraband items. The university administration taking a strong view of the damage to university property and defacement of the wall and the obstruction of the classes, has taken preventive measures so that the university continues to conduct classes and other academic activities as normal.

Despite the University administration has given open offer to discuss their demands in the committee, they refused to listen and talk to the administration including supervisor, head and Dean.

Taking preventive measures, today morning the university administration and the Proctorial team removed the students from the site of the protest and they have been evicted from the campus. The police have been requested to maintain law and order situation.”

Official statement of JMI

A handful of students called for a protest, unlawfully gathering in the academic block since the evening of 10 Feb 2025. Since then they have not only disturbed the peaceful conduct of classes in the academic block of the university but also prevented…

— Jamia Millia Islamia (NAAC A++ Grade Central Univ) (@jmiu_official) February 13, 2025

However, students have vehemently denied these allegations, calling them an excuse to suppress dissent. A student speaking to The Hindustan Times refuted the administration’s claims, stating, “I visited the canteen during the day, and everything was intact. There was no damage whatsoever.”

Despite the administration’s claim that the police never entered the campus, multiple students recounted being forcibly evicted by security guards and subsequently handed over to the police. Students alleged that their phones were snatched, preventing them from contacting anyone during the detentions.

Detention and alleged police brutality

As per multiple media reports, around 5:30 am on Thursday, security personnel dragged sleeping protesters from their site near the central canteen before handing them over to the Delhi Police. The detained students were then taken to multiple police stations across South East Delhi, including Bawana, Badarpur, and Fatehpur Beri. They were held in custody for nearly nine hours before being released at 3:00 pm.

Several students accused the police of manhandling them and confiscating their phones. Uthara UR, a 22-year-old MA Sociology student, told The Hindustan Times reporters that “Our protest was peaceful. I was asleep when I was carried away by security guards. We were not allowed to call anyone. The police took our phones and treated us like criminals.”

The police, however, denied allegations of misconduct. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Ravi Kumar Singh claimed that the detentions were carried out lawfully after the university administration brought the students outside campus.

The Broader Context: systematic repression at JMI

The protest stemmed from mounting frustration over what students describe as the systematic suppression of dissent at JMI. The administration has repeatedly cracked down on activism, issuing prohibitive guidelines against demonstrations and public gatherings. A 2022 office memorandum effectively banned student protests by mandating prior administrative approval for any gathering of more than five people. Student organisations argue that this rule is being weaponised to curtail freedom of expression and even basic academic discussions on campus.

Tensions escalated in December 2024 when the administration issued show-cause notices to students who participated in a candlelight march commemorating the 2019 CAA protests. This march, led by leftist student groups such as the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students’ Association (AISA), was met with disciplinary action. Protesters demanded the immediate withdrawal of these notices, viewing them as a continuation of the administration’s efforts to erase Jamia’s long-standing culture of student activism.

Student unions argue that the administration’s actions are not only undemocratic but also hypocritical. While citing academic disruptions as justification for the crackdown, JMI itself has failed to conduct student union elections for nearly two decades, effectively depriving students of institutional representation.

Condemnation from rights groups and student organisations

The response to the administration’s actions has been swift and critical. The All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE), a coalition of students, teachers, and democratic organisations, issued a strong statement condemning what it called an “undemocratic intervention by police and university administration in the democratic struggles of students.” It demanded the immediate and unconditional revocation of all suspensions and disciplinary actions.

The detained students, once released, were met with an outpouring of solidarity from fellow students. Hundreds gathered on Thursday evening, defying administrative warnings, to continue their protest. AISA, in a statement, declared, “This day will go down in Jamia’s history as both a day of shame and resistance.” Protesters have given the administration a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw all disciplinary actions or face intensified demonstrations.

#SOS from #Jamia!#DelhiPolice detained protesting students from Jamia’s Central Canteen at 5 AM!

Shame on the VC & Proctor for their intimidation tactics and crackdown on students!

Jamia Admin & Delhi Police are illegally detaining students en masse from campus! pic.twitter.com/196Z9kHtUp

— AISA (@AISA_tweets) February 13, 2025

An escalating crackdown on student dissent

JMI’s actions fit into a broader pattern of increasing authoritarianism on Indian campuses, where student voices are being systematically stifled. From the 2019 police brutality against Jamia students during the anti-CAA movement to the present crackdown on peaceful protest, the administration has repeatedly acted in a manner that prioritises control over democratic engagement.

The university’s latest disciplinary measures not only violate fundamental rights to protest and assemble but also undermine the spirit of academic freedom. By branding student activism as misconduct and deploying police force against its own students, JMI is sending a clear message: dissent will not be tolerated.

As the administration continues its repressive tactics, the question remains—how far will it go to silence its students? And more importantly, how long will the students of Jamia, and the wider academic community, allow this erosion of campus democracy to continue?

Related:

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BHU students arrested for allegedly trying to burn Manusmriti remain in jail as advocates push for removal of false charges

Muslim student denied exam for wearing beard in Ahmedabad: A disturbing reflection of rising intolerance

The post Crackdown on Student Dissent: Jamia Millia Islamia’s heavy-handed response to peaceful protests appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As Jamia Millia Islamia celebrates its 104th year—a legacy shaped by the ideals of equality and freedom—messages of pride resonate throughout our community. But for me, this day is also marked by a sense of emptiness. Jamia, born from the spirit of the freedom movement, stands tall, yet how do we honour it while voices like Meeran Haider’s remain silenced?

Meeran was more than an activist; he was a guiding presence, an elder brother (to me and many others) who fought tirelessly for his peers. Without a formal student union, he took on the responsibility of representing us all. From protesting rising fees to addressing poor hygiene in the canteen and inadequate hostel facilities, he championed issues that mattered, often risking his own comfort and safety.

I remember the 2016 incident, just before Independence Day, when police entered Jamia’s campus, allegedly for religious profiling. Amidst the fear and division this sparked, Meeran stepped up, organising a massive protest that compelled the administration to respond. With his courage and unwavering commitment, he united us, bridging our differences. Meeran understood that a university is a microcosm of society, a space for diverse voices, and he fought tirelessly to ensure ours were heard.

His greatest test came during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)—a law widely criticised for excluding Muslim migrants from a pathway to citizenship. At a time when the nation was divided, Meeran became a unifying force at Jamia, embracing the monumental task of rallying diverse student community at Jamia. From brewing chai for tired protesters to drafting press notes, guiding juniors with essays, and helping students secure hostel admissions, he embodied a leadership that went beyond words. In every gesture, big or small, Meeran demonstrated this; that true leadership is about standing beside people, embodying justice and unity.

Today marks another year that Meeran has spent in jail—over four years—alongside activists like Umar Khalid, charged in connection with the CAA protests. While his juniors (including me) and batchmates have moved forward, there’s a debt of unspoken gratitude that we owe him. A few weeks ago, I heard he was briefly out on parole, but I couldn’t gather the courage to call. Perhaps it was shame—shame for the freedom I enjoy while he remains confined.

As Jamia marks this anniversary, it’s not only the walls and buildings that symbolize its legacy but also the sacrifices of those like Meeran. He often quoted Tagore, his eyes lighting up as he recited lines that spoke of a world unbound by fear, where truth and reason prevailed. Those words echo now as a silent prayer for his freedom.

Meeran —your absence is deeply felt. While we celebrate Jamia’s achievements, we also celebrate the courage of those who stood firm in the face of injustice. Jamia misses you, and we hold onto the hope that you will return to walk the halls again, head held high!

(The author is a Jamia Millia Islamia and U.S. Department of State alumnus. He works as a non-profit communications specialist, focusing on storytelling that amplifies community voices) 

The post Celebrating Jamia’s Legacy amidst the silence around our missing voices – Meeran appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Violent clashes erupted when students of Jamia Milia Islamia University (JMIU) broke cordon and tried to scale barricades after police denied them the right to protest peacefully.

The protest call had been given by Jamia Teachers Union and hundreds of students turned up to participate in a march to the Parliament. But the police placed barricades near the Jamia stadium gate and did not allow the protestors to move forward. That’s when clashes broke out with many students attempting to climb and jump over the barricades. Students also allegedly pelted stones at the police.

During the clashes, police allegedly brutally attacked the protesters with lathis and even lobbed tear gas shells. Even though the justification given for the lathi charge was crown control, videos emerged on social media showing how in many instances police beat up students without provocation. 

This is happening in Delhi right now. Video by my colleague @journoshivs pic.twitter.com/vuSn4EVI1Q

— Rahul Sabharwal (@rubberneckin) December 13, 2019

In other videos, police personnel can be seen manhandling protesters including young women students.

#NewsAlert – Jamia students take to streets against CAB.@Zebaism with details.#CABPassed pic.twitter.com/08mPtyWkij

— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 13, 2019

Sources familiar with the developments told Sabrang India that many students had been injured with some sustaining serious head injuries. Many students were detained. Sources also told us that by shortly after 4:30 PM the entire Jamia Nagar neighbourhood had been surrounded by the police and even people living in far off neighbourhoods like Manzil Colony and Noor Nagar could hear tear gas shells.

The clashes let to a temporary shut down of Metro rail services at a few stations. Trains did not halt at Patel Chowk and Janpath, but services resumed later.

Security Update

As advised by Delhi Police, entry & exit at Patel Chowk and Janpath have been closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) December 13, 2019

According to the Delhi Traffic Police, traffic movement was also affected on both carriageways from Jamia to Sukhdev Vihar and from Mathura Road to Sarai Jullena.

The post Police lathi-charge students at Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Delhi appeared first on SabrangIndia.