NEW DELHI: Jamia Millia Islamia turned into a fortress on Wednesday with Delhi Police and the Vajra special force being deployed on the campus after a student organisation announced the screening of the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6 pm outside one of the university gates. The screening was ultimately cancelled and 13 students were detained by the cops.
The university administration maintained that no permission was given for screening the documentary that has been banned by the central government. "Jamia is taking all possible measures to prevent people/organisations with vested interest from destroying the peaceful academic atmosphere of the university," said a statement.
The incident in Jamia follows a day after the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union too were thwarted from screening the documentary after power was disconnected but shared the links on mobile phones. There were reports of stone pelting at JNU too.
A Students' Federation of India poster announced the screening at Jamia on Tuesday night. An MA student, who had a viva on Wednesday, said, "From the morning, security people were present on the campus. Even our vivas were hurriedly done. I think the administration wanted the campus emptied by 3pm. Some students were later detained. I don't know what the harm is in the university allowing the screening of such documentaries. Isn't a university supposed to be a free space?"
With SFI members being detained, the student organisation called for a protest outside the Bab-e Maulana Abul Kalam Azad gate. But Delhi Police intervened, detained a few students and asked others to disperse.
A statement released by SFI said, "In an atrocious manner, students of Jamia Milia Islamia and the SFI Jamia unit secretary were detained by Delhi Police prior to the screening of the documentary. One of the students was also manhandled by the security guards, who tried to snatch the phone on which she was recording the situation."
JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, an SFI member, said, "What's happening in Jamia is condemnable. The internet has been snapped and students have been detained."
DCP (South-East) Esha Pandey confirmed, "The university informed us that some students were creating a ruckus. We detained 13 students to ensure peace in the area."
On January 24, the chief proctor had issued a notice reiterating that no meeting or gathering would be allowed on the campus without prior permission.
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