Ramjas violence: Students hold protests; 3 cops suspended

New Delhi, February 23

Tensions continued to simmer across Delhi University’s North Campus on Thursday with students’ groups holding protests against police “high-handedness” during the violent clashes in Ramjas College even as three policemen were suspended for “unprofessional” conduct.

The case relating to yesterday’s violence was handed over to the Crime Branch as criticism against Delhi Police grew louder for allegedly not containing the RSS-backed ABVP during the clash with supporters of Left-affiliated AISA yesterday which left many injured.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government has sought a report from Delhi University on the violence.

His ministerial colleague Kiren Rijiju said freedom of expression in the country doesn’t give right to make college campuses hub of anti-national activities.

Delhi Police spokesperson and Special Commissioner (South West) said three policemen have been suspended for indulging in inappropriate and unprofessional conduct during the clashes at Ramjas yesterday.

He said the Crime Branch will carry out a thorough investigation including complaints by rival student groups about the incident.

Ramjas College yesterday witnessed large-scale violence between members of AISA and ABVP supporters. The genesis of the clash was an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar on ‘Culture of Protests’ which was withdrawn by the college authorities following opposition by the ABVP.

Classes remained suspended at Ramjas even as the authorities claimed it was due to “administrative reasons” and not because of the tense situation.

Teachers at the SGTB Khalsa College claimed that a street play competition scheduled today had to be cancelled as “police had advised them against it in view of restoring normalcy and peace on campus”.

While students of JNU and DU who are members of All India Students Association (AISA) staged a protest at the Delhi Police Headquarters at ITO, the Congress’ student wing National Students Union of India (NSUI) took out a peace march to Maurice Nagar police station, near the North Campus.

ABVP, on its part staged a protest reiterating that “they will not allow any repeat of JNU-like events in Delhi University”. — PTI