Jamia Millia Islamia alleges overnight vandalism as students’ union protest enters day 16

Jamia Millia Islamia has alleged that several campus gates and other properties were damaged overnight as tensions continued between the university administration and students demanding the restoration of the students’ union.

A university official said a group of people entered the campus, with some allegedly wearing masks and carrying lathis. The group reportedly damaged several entry points, including Gate 4C and the gate of the central mosque.

“A group of people entered the premises, some masked, some carrying lathis. They damaged gates and other property near the entry points. Gate 4C has been completely damaged, the central mosque gate is also damaged. Multiple entry points have seen vandalism.”

The university also released videos that purportedly showed people gathering near campus gates, climbing over them, and raising slogans. The footage was shared amid an ongoing protest over the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union.

The Delhi Police said no complaint had been filed in connection with the alleged vandalism so far. The police response came as the university faced continued demonstrations, including a hunger strike by students demanding a fixed schedule for union elections.

Jamia students’ union protest enters 16th day

The protest at Jamia Millia Islamia has continued since October 12, with students demanding the restoration of the students’ union, whose elections have not been held since 2005.

Some demonstrators have been on hunger strike as part of the 16-day agitation. Their demands include the reinstatement of the students’ union, an official date for elections, and a clearly defined election schedule.

The students have argued that the absence of elected student representation for nearly two decades has left them without a formal union to represent their concerns.

The university administration announced on Monday that it had agreed to hold students’ union elections once the union’s constitution receives official approval. The announcement marked a development in negotiations between the administration and the protesting students.

However, the decision did not resolve the dispute. Hours after the university's announcement, a section of the protesters wrote to Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif, requesting a revision of the university's order.

The students argued that the administration's decision had not fully addressed their demands. They continued to seek clarity on the election process and a definite timetable for restoring the union.

Three of the five students who began fasting on Oct 12 also vowed to continue their hunger strike despite the university's announcement.

University agrees to hold elections after approval of union constitution

The university's decision to hold elections is conditional on the official approval of the students’ union constitution. The administration has not, in the information provided, announced a fixed election date.

The distinction has remained central to the disagreement between the university and the protesters. While the administration has agreed in principle to conduct elections, students are seeking a clear schedule and a resolution of their remaining demands.

The students’ union elections have not been held since 2005, according to the report. The prolonged absence of elections has been a central issue in the current agitation.

The university's announcement has therefore failed to bring the protest to an end, with some students maintaining that a commitment to conduct elections is insufficient without a concrete timeline and action on their other demands.

Jamia shifts classes online until Nov 8

The university has moved classes online until November 8 as the protest continues. It has also issued notices directing demonstrators to vacate the sit-in site.

The notices warn that students could face disciplinary action and legal consequences if they do not comply with the administration's directions.

The measures have added to tensions between the university administration and the protesters, who are continuing their sit-in and pressing for the restoration of elected student representation.

The administration's actions have also become part of the students' wider grievances. A student involved in organizing the protest alleged that access to basic facilities had been restricted during the demonstration.

The university has not been reported as withdrawing its demand that protesters leave the sit-in location.

Education minister appeals to students to avoid law-and-order situation

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday that negotiations were underway between the concerned authorities and the protesting students. He appealed to the demonstrators to avoid creating a law-and-order situation on campus.

“Many efforts have been made… there have been no elections since 2006, for more than a decade. Negotiations are underway. Nobody should try to create a law-and-order problem. That is my appeal. The authorities concerned, including the Vice-Chancellor, are looking into the remaining issues,” Joshi said.

The minister's remarks came as the dispute continued despite the university's decision to agree to elections after approval of the union's constitution.

Joshi said the authorities, including Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif, were examining the remaining issues. He urged students not to escalate tensions while discussions continued.

His appeal came against the backdrop of the alleged overnight vandalism, the ongoing hunger strike, and the university's decision to move classes online.

Police deployment increased outside Jamia campus

Security arrangements were tightened around the university on Tuesday, with more than 15 police buses and riot-control vehicles stationed outside the campus.

Security personnel were carrying tear gas shells as authorities monitored the situation. Officers also made public announcements asking people not to move in groups and advising them to stay away from the protest site.

Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed in the area. The restrictions were aimed at regulating gatherings as the student agitation continued.

The police deployment came as the university reported damage to multiple entry points and shared videos purportedly showing people climbing over gates and raising slogans.

However, the Delhi Police said no complaint had been filed regarding the alleged vandalism at the time of its statement.

The reported damage, security deployment, and restrictions outside the campus have unfolded alongside the ongoing dispute over the students’ union and the administration's handling of the protest.

Protest organizer alleges restrictions on water, electricity and food

A PhD student at Jamia Millia Islamia who is organizing the protest accused the university administration of restricting access to essential facilities at the sit-in site.

The student also alleged that the administration had sealed gates, restricted access to washrooms, and prevented food from reaching the demonstrators.

“This is collective outrage against the Jamia administration. They have sealed the gates, stopped water and electricity, closed off the washrooms, prevented food from reaching us. The students are denied access to their own campus. We don’t condone violence and have been protesting peacefully since day one.“

The organizer said the protest was a collective response to the administration's actions and maintained that the demonstrators did not support violence.

The allegations come as the university has accused a group of people of damaging gates and other campus property overnight. The university's videos purportedly show people gathered near the gates, climbing over them, and raising slogans.

The student's statement and the university's allegations reflect the competing accounts surrounding the dispute. The police had not received a complaint regarding the alleged vandalism, according to their statement.

Jamia dispute continues despite negotiations

The standoff at Jamia Millia Islamia remains centered on the restoration of the students’ union and the conditions under which elections will be held.

The university has agreed to conduct elections after the union's constitution receives official approval, but some protesters say the decision does not address all their demands.

Three students have vowed to continue their hunger strike, while the administration has shifted classes online until Nov 8 and issued notices asking protesters to vacate the sit-in site.

The Education Ministry has appealed for restraint as negotiations continue. Meanwhile, security personnel remain deployed outside the campus, and prohibitory orders are in force in the surrounding area.

The dispute has now entered its 16th day, with a fixed election date and a clear schedule remaining among the protesters' central demands.