Jamia Millia Islamia Gripped by Violence: Masked Agitators Vandalise Campus; Rahul Gandhi to Visit
Masked agitators allegedly pelted stones and vandalised university gates at Jamia Millia Islamia. Rahul Gandhi to visit campus today.
Tension continues to grip the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) campus in New Delhi, following a night of widespread vandalism and stone-pelting. The university administration has alleged that masked protesters, supported by local residents, breached university boundaries and destroyed key infrastructure late Tuesday night.
The unrest comes at a critical juncture, as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled to visit the university campus later today, adding a high-profile political dimension to the existing student agitation.
The Night of Chaos: Gates Torn Down and CCTV Destroyed
According to an official statement released by the university administration on Wednesday, the chaos began late Tuesday night. The proctorial team and faculty members were alerted to a breach of the boundary walls. Upon arriving at the scene, officials discovered a scene of devastation.
- Infrastructure Damage: Protesting groups, allegedly joined by locals, dismantled university gates, specifically bringing down Gate No. 4C.
- Security Breach: The agitators reportedly pelted stones at the premises and targeted the university's security system.
- Surveillance Sabotage: The CCTV control room and cameras were damaged, and their connections were intentionally disrupted to hide the identity of the perpetrators.
The administration further alleged that a group of masked protesters entered the Boys' Hostels to mobilize more support for the unrest.
Dialogue vs. Violence: The University's Frustration
The university administration expressed deep concern over the timing of the violence. They pointed out a stark contradiction: while students were engaged in negotiations with committee members and JMI teachers on Tuesday evening, acts of vandalism were broken out shortly thereafter.
"Particularly disturbing is the stark contradiction between the protesting students’ engagement in negotiations with committee members and JMI teachers, yesterday evening being the 7th such attempt by the university administration to hold dialogue, and the acts of vandalism that began on campus shortly thereafter," the varsity noted.
The administration also reported that female protesters threatened women faculty members, wardens, and provosts who attempted to reason with them.
Security Measures and Academic Suspension
The university officials reported that the protesters used heavy iron rods, hammers, and other tools to destroy campus security infrastructure. Due to the escalating tensions over the past week, JMI had already shifted all physical classes to online mode on October 24 to ensure student safety.
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To prevent any further flare-ups, police and campus security personnel have been deployed in strength across the university to maintain law and order, especially ahead of the visited by Rahul Gandhi.