JNU students, policemen clash during protest
HRD Ministry appoints three-member committee to recommend ways to restore normal functioning in university
New Delhi: A stand-off between JNU students and Delhi police ended with chaos on Monday, after the latter had to use force to disperse off the protesting students. The students who marched from JNU campus were supposed to walk till the Parliament but were stopped near Jor Bagh metro station.
After a few hours of standoff, students were told that the HRD Ministry appointed a three-member committee to recommend ways to restore normal functioning of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), officials said.
The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry's committee on JNU will initiate dialogues with students and administration as well as submit recommendations on resolution of all issues, they said.
The protest march to the Parliament was announced on Sunday night itself, with Delhi Police barricading the main entrance of the campus. But on Monday morning, the students finally broke through and started their march. The march resulted in a clash between the students and police, with over 100 students detained and released later at night.
The JNU students have been vigorously protesting against the hostel fee hike, which many have termed as extravagant. Even when Delhi Police officials were trying to negotiate with the students, they continued to demand the release of their fellow students.
Students were told by police officials to bring forward a delegation that could meet with officials of the HRD Ministry to resolve whatever issues they might have.
"We have been told that the high enquiry wants to talk to the students. Meanwhile, we are waiting for our comrades, who have been detained, to come back. Our demands are the same. We want the committee to listen to the students' and we will tell them that how the admin has ruined JNU," said JNUSU vice-president Saket Moon.
The whole area of RK Puram, Bikaji Cama Place and Jor Bagh was congested with traffic. As section 144 was imposed in the areas, students were stopped at Jor Bagh road leading to SJ Madarsa.
The police kept negotiating with the students. "I request you to move from the road as it has created traffic nuisance," they requested. The students, however, refused to move and said their protests have been peaceful and that police hace instead used lathi charge.
