Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has significantly ramped up security protocols for its upcoming convocation ceremony scheduled for January 12. This decisive action comes in the wake of recent campus tensions sparked by an event where allegedly provocative slogans were raised.
Heightened Security Measures Deployed
University administration sources confirmed that security personnel at the convocation venue will be nearly tripled compared to the usual deployment. While typically 10 to 12 officers are posted, this year close to 30 personnel will be on duty. Crucially, the university has also roped in Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to bolster arrangements and maintain order.
The trigger for this heightened alert was an event held on Monday evening, linked to the anniversary of the January 2020 campus violence. Organized by students associated with the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU), the event reportedly featured "highly objectionable, provocative, and inflammatory slogans." A circulated video appeared to show slogans targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. In response, the university filed a police complaint, naming nine students, including all four JNUSU office-bearers.
Learning from Past Disruptions
Officials are also determined to avoid a repeat of the 2019 convocation, where protests over a hostel fee hike escalated. During that incident, then Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal was confined inside the venue for approximately three hours after students breached gates and barricades, leading to police using water cannons for dispersal.
Detailing this year's preventive strategy, a university official stated that access to the convocation venue will be strictly regulated through a single entry and exit point. "Only individuals identified and approved by the university will be allowed to enter. No one will be permitted without authorisation," the official emphasized. Any attempts to protest outside, especially on the open Nelson Mandela Marg, will be managed by Delhi Police.
Focus on Peaceful Proceedings
Senior Delhi Police officers and JNU security officials held a coordination meeting on Friday to finalize plans. The university's current priority is ensuring the convocation proceeds smoothly. When asked about further identification of students involved in the slogan-raising event, an official indicated that process would move forward after January 12.
Earlier, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit addressed the situation, stating that a "lunatic fringe" could not define the institution. She asserted that JNU returned to normalcy within a day and described it as the "most nationalistic university" in India. Pandit highlighted the university's global reputation, noting that events on its campus have wide resonance.
The overarching goal for the administration is clear: to ensure the convocation, a significant milestone for graduating students, is conducted without any interruption or disruption, marking a dignified conclusion to their academic journey.
