Delhi Police Arrests 14 Individuals in Connection with Violent JNUSU Protest March
In a significant development, Delhi Police has arrested 14 individuals, including key office bearers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), following a protest march on Thursday that allegedly escalated into violence. The arrested persons include Nitish Kumar, the former JNUSU President; Aditi Mishra, the current JNUSU President; Gopika Babu, JNUSU Vice President; and Danish Ali, JNUSU Joint Secretary.
Injuries and Detentions Reported
According to police reports, approximately 25 personnel sustained injuries during the incident. Among those injured were ACP Vasant Kunj Ved Prakash, ACP (CAW) Sanghamitra, SHO (Sarojini Nagar) Atul Tyagi, and SHO (Kishangarh) Ajai Yadav. In total, 51 people were detained on Thursday as part of the investigation into the violent protest.
Legal Charges Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
An FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 221: Obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions
- Section 121: Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty
- Section 132: Assault
- Section 3(5): Common intention
These charges highlight the serious nature of the allegations against the protesters.
Protest March Turns Violent Despite Warnings
Police stated that the protest march, organized by the JNUSU, turned violent after participants attempted to move outside the campus despite being explicitly denied permission. The march, dubbed a Long March, was planned from the university campus to the Ministry of Education. DCP (Southwest) Amit Goel emphasized that the JNU administration had already informed the organizers that no permission was granted for such activities outside the campus, advising them to restrict their protest to the university premises.
Escalation of Violence and Police Response
Despite repeated requests to remain within the campus, around 400–500 students gathered at the main gate at approximately 3:20 pm and began marching towards the Ministry of Education. The situation deteriorated when some protesters allegedly became aggressive. DCP Goel reported that they pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes at police personnel, and even resorted to physical assault, including biting some staff members. Barricades installed at the site were also damaged during the protest.
To prevent further escalation, police stopped and restricted the protesters near the North Gate of the campus. Those who allegedly turned violent and failed to comply with lawful directions were detained. The arrests and detentions are part of ongoing efforts to maintain law and order in the area.
