Jamia students gherao Security Advisor’s office, demand his termination

Hundreds of students from Jamia Millia Islamia surrounded the office of Security Advisor Syed Abdul Rashid on Friday, demanding his immediate termination over what they described as a “brutal crackdown on student activism” during protests on September 19.

Students allege on September 19, authorities “dragged and beat students mercilessly” as they exercised their democratic right to protest, while calling for an independent judicial inquiry into the Batla House encounter.

Earlier, on September 22, students had also demonstrated, demanding Rashid’s resignation. A joint statement from the protesting students said, “The Jamia administration routinely wields physical force, intimidation, and disciplinary action against any democratic voices on campus, but yet again, the students refused to back down.” The protesters demanded the immediate resignation of the Security Advisor and an independent inquiry into the actions of the proctorial team accused of manhandling students. Responding to the protests, a university spokesperson said, “The Security Advisor is only controlling the situation on campus as part of his duties and all measures taken were in accordance with maintaining discipline and safety.”