FIR filed against six JNU students as protest turns violent, teachers condemn police action

The Delhi Police have registered a first information report (FIR) against six students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), including office-bearers of the students’ union, a day after a protest march to the Vasant Kunj North police station turned violent.

Among those named in the FIR are Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Nitesh Kumar, vice president Manisha and general secretary Munteha Fatima. The protest, led by Left-affiliated student groups, was organised to demand action against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), whom they accused of “hooliganism” during a general body meeting at the School of Social Sciences on Thursday.

According to police officials, a case under Sections 221, 121(2), 132 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at the Vasant Kunj North police station. Six students were named as accused, while 28 others were detained under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act and later handed over to university professors following medical examination. Police officials said six personnel were injured during a scuffle that broke out when protesters allegedly attempted to break police barricades.

In a strongly worded statement, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) condemned what it described as the brutal use of force by police against students. The association said several students, including women, were injured and detained after 7 pm, calling the action a reflection of bias and a misuse of power.

The JNUTA also criticised the Delhi Police for failing to ensure fair law enforcement, pointing to previous lapses in JNU-related cases, including the 2020 campus violence and the disappearance of student Najeeb. The teachers’ body urged authorities to ensure that detained students are not treated as criminals and called for an impartial inquiry into the incident.