Jamia Millia Islamia protests escalated on Tuesday night after groups of protesting students, allegedly accompanied by locals, vandalised campus gates, damaged CCTV infrastructure and pelted stones inside the university premises, according to a statement issued by the administration on Wednesday.
The university said members of its proctorial team and faculty went to the campus late Tuesday night after receiving reports that protesters had breached the boundary walls. The administration alleged that the groups dismantled university gates, brought down Gate No. 4C and attacked parts of the campus security system.
“Groups of protesting students along with locals vandalised university gates and walls, brought down Gate No. 4C, pelted stones, damaged the CCTV control room, cameras, and disrupted their connections,” the university said in its statement.
The administration also alleged that masked protesters reached the boys’ hostels in an attempt to mobilise additional support. It said heavy iron rods, hammers and other tools were used to damage key infrastructure. Videos showing the reported damage were circulated on social media, although the supplied report does not independently verify those visuals.
The latest escalation came after another round of discussions between the administration and protesting students. The university said Tuesday’s meeting was its seventh attempt to engage with the protesters over their demands. It described the reported vandalism as a serious reversal after talks and alleged that women faculty members, wardens and provosts were threatened while attempting to reason with female protesters.
The university has not disclosed in the supplied statement the full list of student demands, the estimated cost of repairing the damaged infrastructure or the number of people injured in the reported incidents. The administration’s account also does not establish whether any arrests have been made or whether charges have been filed.
The unrest has already affected the university’s regular functioning. Jamia Millia Islamia suspended physical classes and shifted to online teaching from October 24 amid tensions on the campus. The move places added pressure on the university’s digital teaching arrangements while limiting normal access to classrooms, hostels and other facilities.
Police and campus security personnel have been deployed to prevent further escalation, particularly ahead of the expected visit of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi later on Wednesday. The supplied report does not provide details of the security deployment, the visit’s schedule or any response from the protesting students.
The university administration has condemned the reported violence and said security measures are being maintained on campus. Further developments are expected as authorities assess the damage, manage campus access and continue discussions with the protesting students.
