Clashes break out at Jamia protest, campus shut, classes go online

Jamia Millia Islamia shut its campus and transitioned classes to an online format due to escalating student protests demanding the restoration of the students' union. The unrest began on October 12 with a sit-in and hunger strike, marking Jamia's largest student demonstration since the anti-CAA agitation. Since the anti-CAA protests, Jamia has never had an elected union, which was dissolved in 2006 following violence.

Videos captured confrontations between students and security personnel near Ghalib Lawn, where protesters formed a human chain to prevent hunger-strikers from being removed. All India Students' Association accused security forces of attacking protesters and removing tents during negotiations. Jamia cited safety and academic concerns as reasons for moving classes online.

Talks to resolve the standoff ended in failure, and the All India Students' Association stated five students on hunger strike were moved to the political science department building. Jamia's high-level committee urged students to end the hunger strike, promising to review disciplinary actions against protesting students and implement a code of conduct for security personnel.

However, students rejected the response, demanding election dates for the students' union, the removal of key officials, and an end to disciplinary action. The protests intensified with graffiti targeting RSS and calls for free Kashmir and Sharjeel Imam appearing on campus walls, though protesters denied involvement. Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood visited the campus but were stopped and detained by police.

The university administration condemned the graffiti as damaging to its reputation and 106-year legacy.