Jamia Milia Islamia: Students protest 'surprise checks' by Delhi Police on campus; officials say it was routine

Scores of Jamia Millia Islamia students on Saturday staged a protest alleging that "surprise checks" were made by Delhi Police in their hostels. While the students dubbed them as "raids", police officials maintained that they were part of routine checks being conducted in that area ahead of Independence Day.

"This is a breach of students' constitutional rights. What is the fear of security from students that they are conducting raids in hostels," a protesting student said.

The students gheraoed the Chief Proctor Mehtab Alam's office and shouted slogans against him for allegedly allowing police on campus.

Jamia officials maintained that the police authorities visited the campus for routine verification. 

Following this, the students released an open letter stating their decision to lead a protest against the university administration from midnight on Saturday. They demanded that the administration call a press conference and tell the media that how the Delhi police entered the hostel premises without their permission.

In the letter, the protesting students vow to not to disperse from the main gate of the university until the administration acts on their demands.

Read the open letter by the protesting students of Jamia Millia Islamia:

At the stroke of midnight Jamia Students are leading a massive protest against the administration at Jamia Millia Islamia university and while the concerned authorities are no where to be seen.

The protests erupted following the intrusion of Delhi police personnel and some unknown people in plainclothes within the hostel premises.

The proctor and the provost of Boys hostel who visited the protesting students stated that they had no information about any such “surprise raid” as it is being reported by a section of media.

However, the same media reports are categorically mentioning that the Jamia administration says it was a routine exercise.

The students who reside in the hostels are contradicting the administrations claim of being in no knowledge of the so-called “surprise raids” as they were warned by their care-takers that there will be a raid or search soon.

The proctor and the Provost along with other university officials came and assured the students that they are writing a letter to the DCP of Delhi police urging him to take cognisance of the matter and inquire into it.

The students demand that the university officials shall call a press conference and tell the media that how without their permission the Delhi police entered the hostel premise.

The students have vowed not to disperse from the main gate of the university as a mark of protest until the administration acts on the demands of the protesting students.

The students are articulating this incident with the larger attacks by the cohorts of this government and its various institutions upon universities and students. This incident has raised a plethora of question among students of the university.

This institution on account of being a minority institution has been a target of this government and the party in power.

What makes Jamia, its hostel and students so suspicious elements that Delhi police needs to intrude into the premise without taking prior permission?

We students of Jamia Millia Islamia do not wish to be misquoted or misrepresented into the media therefore we take the onus upon ourselves to spread our word and request all democratic and progressive forces to stand with us.

With PTI inputs.