A day after the private-run security unit of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) filed a police complaint against the students for allegedly barging into the office of the Dean of Students, and “manhandling and verbally abusing” the Dean, the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) has filed a police complaint against JNU security for “beating them up” as they were protesting peacefully and democratically against anti-student measures.
Deadlock
The incident happened on Monday when the JNUSU gave a call for a protest at the Dean of Students’ Office to discuss the issue of arbitrary fee/ mess charges hike.
In their defence, the students said with the meeting with the Dean of Students reaching a deadlock, the students were asked to assemble outside the Dean’s office without blocking any official/ staff. However, the security unit, led by Ramesh Pawar, confined JNUSU Vice-President Simone Zoya Khan, along with other hostel presidents, from around 1.45 p.m. onwards.
‘Mute spectator’
However, the administration claimed in its complaint that it was the students who confined the Dean of Students to his office.
“As the students waiting outside received this message from one of the students leaving the Dean of Students’ Office, they entered the office to ensure that illegal confinement of students — both men and women — was immediately lifted,” said the JNUSU.
They added that peacefully protesting students were beaten up by the security personnel in an effort to disperse them while the students pleaded with the Dean of Students to resume talks instead of being a mute spectator to the assaults on students. In its complaint, the JNUSU has also alleged that women students were beaten up by the guards.
