2019 Jamia Millia Islamia attack
{{short description|Attack on a University campus in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| place = Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
| partof = Citizenship Amendment Act protests
| image = JMI_students_and_locals_protesting_against_CAA_NRC.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = Jamia students and locals protesting, c. 15 December 2019, a few hours before the attack.
| date = {{start date|df=yes|2019|12|15}}
| coordinates =
| causes =
| goals =
| methods = lathi charge, tear gas
| status =
| result =
| side1 = Protestors (mostly Jamia students)
| side2 = Delhi Police
| leadfigures1 = Jamia Coordination Committee (leaderless)
| leadfigures2 = Commissioner of Police, Delhi under the jurisdiction of Home Ministry
| fatalities =
| injuries = 60-80{{cite news |title=Protests erupt across India over CAA, police action against Jamia students |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/from-lucknow-to-hyderabad-protests-across-campuses-against-police-crackdown-in-jamia/articleshow/72743549.cms?from=mdr |access-date=3 February 2020 |work=The Economic Times |date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Mausami |title=80 students undergo treatment at Delhi hospital after violence at Jamia |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-protests-anti-citizenship-amendment-act-caa-injured-hospital-1629100-2019-12-17 |access-date=3 February 2020 |work=The India Today |date=17 December 2019}}
| detentions = 50
| arrests = 15
| charged =
| fined =
| casualties_label =
| notes =
| sidebox =
}}
The Jamia Millia Islamia attack refers to the forceful entry by Delhi police into the Jamia Millia Islamia university during a confrontation with student protesters that started outside the campus on 15 December 2019. Hundreds of police officers forcefully entered the campus and detained more than a hundred students during the confrontation with the protesters. The police used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters. The police also entered the university library and washrooms and in the process of the violence ransacked parts of it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/cops-entered-bathrooms-libraries-and-beat-up-girls-jamia-students-recount-sunday-night-horror-2425629.html|title='Cops Entered Bathrooms, Libraries and Beat up Girls': Jamia Students Recount Sunday Night Horror|website=News18|date=16 December 2019|access-date=2020-01-25}} The visuals of students being dragged and assaulted by the police were telecast by news channels. About two hundred people were injured{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/protests-erupt-across-india-against-new-citizenship-law-after-police-storm-university-campus/2019/12/16/9ebbeae6-1ff0-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html|title=Protests erupt across India against new citizenship law after police storm university campus|last1=Slater|first1=Joanna|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=16 December 2019}} and were admitted to AIIMS and the Holy Family Hospital.{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/dec/16/jamia-protest-two-men-admitted-to-safdarjung-hospital-with-gunshot-injury-say-sources-2077001.html|title=Jamia protest: Two men admitted to Safdarjung Hospital with 'gunshot injury', say sources|date=16 December 2019|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=16 December 2019}}
Thousands of people protested outside the Delhi Police Headquarters immediately after the attack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/citizenship-act-protests-live-delhi-jamia-university-violence-today-bengal-assam-kejriwal-bjp-caa-2424715.html|title=Protesting Against Jamia Crackdown, JNU Students Call for Overnight Stir; Thousands Gather at Delhi Police HQ|website=News18|date=15 December 2019 |access-date=15 December 2019}} Reactionary protests were held in all the major cities of India. The attack triggered widespread controversy and garnered international condemnation. The Human Rights Watch urged the Indian government to order a probe into the attack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/repeal-caa-order-probe-police-brutality-human-rights-watch-centre-1629088-2019-12-17|title=Repeal CAA, order probe into police brutality: Human Rights Watch to Centre|website=India Today|date=December 17, 2019|access-date=2020-01-25}}
Background
{{Further|Citizenship Amendment Act protests}}The Citizenship Amendment Act protests are a series of ongoing protests in India against the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA. The university of Jamia Millia Islamia became a center of the protest.
= 13 December protest =
On 13 December 2019, the students of Jamia Millia Islamia University undertook a march to the Parliament protesting against the CAA. They were prevented from going ahead by the police who used batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters leading to clashes with them. Fifty students were detained by the police after the clash. According to the students, police attacked the peaceful protesters with stones and batons, in which several students were injured. The students then retaliated with stones. Police denied the allegations claiming that after the protesters were prevented from taking their march forward they attacked the policemen with stones, after which the police used tear gas shells.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/50-jamia-students-detained-after-clash-with-cops-during-protest-against-citizenship-bill/article30298456.ece|title=50 Jamia students detained after clash with cops during CAB protest|date=13 December 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=17 December 2019}} Several students were injured in a baton charge.{{cite news|title=50 Jamia students detained after clash with Delhi cops during Citizenship Act protest |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2019/dec/13/50-jamia-students-detained-after-clash-with-delhi-cops-during-citizenship-act-protest-2075676.html}}
Attack
On the morning of 15 December 2019, more than two thousand students of Jamia joined the protests against CAA in Delhi.{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/15/india/india-protests-assam-delhi-citizenship-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Protests spread across India over new citizenship law which excludes Muslims|date=16 December 2019|work=CNN|access-date=16 December 2019}} Jamia Millia Student Body and Jamia Millia Islamia Teacher's Association (JTA) condemned the violence that happened on the same day in Delhi and stated that no student or teacher was involved in the violence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-act-protests-north-east-assam-guwahati-tripura-west-bengal-live-updates|title=CAA Unrest: Dozens of Jamia Students Held, No Internet in Aligarh|date=15 December 2019|website=The Quint|access-date=15 December 2019}}
On 15 December, students gathered outside Gate No. 7 of the university and marched towards India Gate along with local people of Jamia Nagar and other university students. When the students reached the traffic signal of Mata Mandir Marg New Friends Colony, Delhi Police attacked the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and dispersed the students by lathi charge, firing and tear gas. The students were beaten by the police including Shaheen Abdullah, Chanda Yadav, Akhtarista Ansari, Ladeeda Farzana, and Aysha Renna at New Friends Colony. The confrontation started at Mata Mandir road around 5:30 pm.{{Cite web |last=Kuchay |first=Bilal |title=Meet India's Jamia women who took on Delhi police in viral video |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/17/meet-indias-jamia-women-who-took-on-delhi-police-in-viral-video |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lalwani |first=Vijayta |date=2019-12-16 |title=Meet the brave women of Jamia who rescued a fellow student from the clutches of Delhi Police |url=https://scroll.in/article/947026/meet-the-brave-women-of-jamia-who-rescued-a-fellow-student-from-the-clutches-of-delhi-police |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}} Protestors were dismissed by the police lathi charge. Visuals of burning buses began circulating on social media from the same spot where police had started beating the protesters.{{Cite magazine |date=2019-12-18 |title=How a New Law in India Sparked Mass Protests and a Brutal Police Clampdown |url=https://time.com/5752186/india-protests-citizenship-act/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |magazine=Time |language=en}}
At 6:46 pm on 15 December 2019, hundreds of police officers, during confrontations with protesters, forcefully entered the campus of Jamia, without the permission of college authority.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/jamia-protests-delhi-police-release-photos-of-70-people-involved-in-violence/articleshow/73732067.cms|title=Jamia protests: Delhi Police release photos of 70 people involved in anti-CAA protests near Jamia|date=29 January 2020|website=The Times of India|access-date=2020-02-03}} The police used batons and tear gas on the protesting students. Nearly a hundred students were detained by the Delhi police and released at 3:30 am next morning.{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-mau-protesters-cops-clash-over-citizenship-law-vehicles-burnt-police-use-tear-gas-2149780|title=UP Police Station Set On Fire, Citizenship Law Protesters Tear-Gassed|date=16 December 2019|work=NDTV.com|access-date=16 December 2019}} The visuals of students being dragged and assaulted by the police was telecast by news channels. Students from all across Delhi joined the agitation. About two hundred people were injured and were admitted to AIIMS and the Holy Family Hospital. Also, the official of Jamia's neighboring hospital Al-Shifa said that on the evening of the incident, more than 100 injured people were brought to the hospitals for treatment.{{Cite web |title=Protests erupt in Indian cities over citizenship law |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/16/india-police-storm-jamia-amu-to-break-citizenship-law-protests |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
Speaking at a press conference on Monday 16 December, JMI's VC Najma Akhtar said, “Our students have been protesting peacefully since Friday. What happened yesterday was unfortunate. We don’t care about buses being burnt, that’s the failure of the police. Our concern is only that our students stay safe. Police coming inside without any notice, damaging our property and the barbaric treatment towards students is not acceptable. A lot of damage has been done inside our buildings, we are not concerned about the material loss but about the emotional turmoil that our students had to go through.” {{Cite web |last=Ara |first=Ismat |date=2019-12-16 |title='Our university isn't safe. Where do we go?' Jamia Millia VC's assurances fail to assuage students' anger, fear |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/16/our-university-isnt-safe-where-do-we-go-jamia-millia-vice-chancellors-assurances-fail-to-assuage-students-anger-fear |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Newslaundry}}
Police officials had defended the police action by saying that around 4000 people were protesting and the police had to disperse the crowd when the buses were burnt. However, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has speculated about a conspiracy behind the burnt buses. He tweeted pictures in which a Delhi Police constable can be seen with a gallon near the burning buses. Journalists and activists have mixed reactions to this conspiracy and speculation.{{Cite web |title=Fact Check: Delhi Buses at the Centre of Conspiracy Theory Were Not Burnt |url=https://thewire.in/government/delhi-police-bus-burning-fact-check |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Wire}}
= Attack on library =
The police fired tear gas canisters inside the main library. Students scrambled over desks and smashed windows to escape.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/bloodstains-used-tear-gas-shell-in-library-capture-sunday-s-violence/story-FRVJH7Im0JGQU8kf5nqFAL.html|title=Bloodstains, used tear gas shell in Jamia library capture Sunday's violence|date=2019-12-17|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=2020-01-25}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2019/dec/17/police-fire-teargas-inside-university-library-during-india-citizenship-protests-video|title=Police fire teargas inside university library during India citizenship protests – video|date=2019-12-17|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-01-25|issn=0261-3077}} In a video, released on 15 December 2019, it can be seen that the students who were taking refuge inside the library were trying to escape from the reading room where tear gas was fired.{{cite news |title=On Camera, Jamia Students Take Cover In Library As Police Fire Tear Gas |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGWYWV12Z34 |access-date=17 February 2020 |work=The NDTV |date=15 December 2019}}
Later, the police denied entering the library.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/police-deny-entering-university-library/article30334044.ece|title=Police deny entering university library|last1=Bhandari|first1=Hemani|date=2019-12-18|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-01-25|issn=0971-751X}} On 15 February 2020, the Jamia Coordination Committee released a CCTV footage which confirms that indeed police and para-military personnel entered into the research scholar section of the library and randomly beat up students who can be seen sitting and reading at their respective seats.{{cite news |title=Exclusive footage of Police brutality in Old reading hall |url=https://twitter.com/Jamia_JCC/status/1228772837583753216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1228772837583753216&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehindu.com%2Fnews%2Fcities%2FDelhi%2Fvideo-of-police-brutality-in-jamia-millia-islamia-library-goes-viral%2Farticle30834535.ece |access-date=16 February 2020 |work=Jamia Coordination Committee |publisher=Twitter |date=15 February 2020}}{{cite news |title=Jamia Protesters Release Video Of Cops Attacking Students In Library |url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/jamia-protesters-release-video-of-cops-attacking-students-in-library-2180844 |access-date=16 February 2020 |work=The NDTV |date=16 February 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Ravi |first1=Sidharth |title=Video of police brutality in Jamia Millia Islamia library goes viral |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/video-of-police-brutality-in-jamia-millia-islamia-library-goes-viral/article30834535.ece |access-date=16 February 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=16 February 2020}} Another video posted by Maktoob Media an online media platform, shows that the police broke the door of the PG reading room of the library and started beating the students.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-16|title=Beyond the 'Uncut Exclusive': CCTV footage released by media has more to say|url=https://en.maktoobmedia.com/2020/02/17/beyond-the-uncut-exclusive-cctv-footage-released-by-media-has-more-to-say/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Maktoob|language=en-US}} The students could be seen pleading
File:Attack on JMI's Library - remains of tear gas 06.jpg|Remains of tear gas shield in the reading hall, central library, JMI.
File:Attack on JMI's Library - remains of tear gas 07.jpg|Remains of tear gas shield in the reading hall, central library, JMI
File:Attack on JMI's Library - Belongings of students in reading hall 05.jpg|Belongings of students and chair in reading hall after the police attack on the evening of 15 December 2019.
File:Attack on JMI's Library - Blood stains of victim students on chair 01.jpg|Blood stains from the victimized students found on a chair in the library after the police attack on the evening of 15 December 2019
File:Attack on JMI's Library - Reading Hall Gate 04.jpg|Broken gate of reading hall after the police attack on the evening of 15 December 2019.
with the police not to beat them but it was in vain. The police brutality and vandalism continued and at the end the police can be seen damaging the CCTV which was capturing the incidents.{{cite news |title=Extended footage of police brutality in Jamia library |url=https://twitter.com/MaktoobMedia/status/1229220850676588544 |access-date=17 February 2020 |work=Maktoob Media |date=16 February 2020}} The Quint released another video on 17 February 2020, where it can be seen that police and para-military personnel entered the library and vandalised, breaking chairs and reading desk and damaging CCTVs. It can also be seen that the police lathi charged the frightened students who were trying their best to hide to save themselves from such brutality.{{cite news |title=Footage from Jamia library shows cops trying to vandalise CCTV |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GY0CKCN5EM |access-date=17 February 2020 |work=The Quint |date=17 February 2020}}
= Firing =
On 16 December 2019, two students of Jamia were admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital with bullet injuries received during the protests on 15 December. One of the victims, M. Tamin stated that he was not participating in the protest and was passing through the area on a motorcycle, when police suddenly started caning the protesters and he was shot in the leg by police from point blank range.{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-protest-aftermath-passerby-shot-in-leg-claims-police-took-shot-without-cause-1628811-2019-12-16|title=Jamia protest aftermath: Passerby shot in leg, claims police took shot without cause|last1=P|first1=Tanushree|date=16 December 2019|work=India Today|access-date=17 December 2019}} The doctors treating him stated that the wounds were gunshot wounds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/near-jamia-protest-site-2-men-received-gunshot-injury-police-say-wounds-could-be-due-to-tear-gas-shells-2426467.html|title=Near Jamia Protest Site, 2 Men Get 'Gunshot Injury'; Police Say Wounds Could be Due to Tear Gas Shells|website=News18|date=16 December 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TanushreePande/status/1206791810124660739|title=#EXCLUSIVE Medical report of Mohd Tamin,passer-by who was allegedly shot by Delhi Police during #JamiaProtests reads GUN SHOT INJURY ON LEFT LEG. Tamin told me "I was crossing the area,when chaos broke out. Told police I'm not a protestor, but they took a straight shot at my leg"|last1=Pandey|first1=Tanushree|date=16 December 2019|website=@TanushreePande|access-date=17 December 2019}} The police stated that they were investigating the allegations of gunshot.
= Serious injuries =
Mohammad Minhajuddin, an LLM student from Jamia's law faculty, was in the library when police forcibly entered the campus and beat up the students. Minhajuddin lost his left eye due to a brutal beating by the police. According to media reports, Minhajuddin said that he was not involved in any kind of protest. In viral images and videos, he can be lying down on the floor of a bathroom of a library.{{Cite web |last=Penkar |first=co-authored by Shahid Tantray,Ahan |title=There is fear, but I will not lose hope: Jamia student who lost an eye during an attack by Delhi Police |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/jamia-student-lost-eye-during-police-attack |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Caravan |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-12-18 |title=Jamia student says lost sight in one eye |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/citizenship-law-protests-jamia-student-says-lost-sight-in-one-eye-6172446/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
When a student tried to catch the tear gas without exploding, the can exploded in his hand and the student lost his thumb. Friends took him to the nearest hospital, Holy Family, but the damage could not be repaired.{{Cite web |title=Police Attacked Students With Intent of Maximum Damage: Fact Finding Report on Jamia |url=https://thewire.in/government/jamia-police-attack-report |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Wire}}
= Emergency protest =
News of police attacks on students inside Jamia campuses was emerging on social media. On the same night of 15 December 2019, students of JNU, DU Ambedkar University and common citizens gathered outside the police headquarters at ITO. The protesters demanded the vacation of the Jamia campus and the release of students detained by the police. This protest was called by JNU Students Union and many students and citizens participated in this protest in the night itself.{{Cite journal |last=Allen |first=Andrea |date=2020-07-15 |title=Are Campus Police "Real" Police? Students' Perceptions of Campus versus Municipal Police |journal=CrimRxiv |doi=10.21428/cb6ab371.b9947246|doi-access=free }}
Aftermath
File:Poster in NRC protest.jpg
The university shut down until 5 January 2020 and the residents were asked to leave the campus.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/citizenship-act-protests-live-updates/article30317284.ece|title=Citizenship Act protests live updates {{!}} Opposition spreading 'falsehood' about Citizenship Act: Shah|last1=|first1=|date=16 December 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50805092|title=India PM plea for calm as citizenship unrest rages|date=16 December 2019|access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-citizenship-protests/india-citizenship-law-protests-spread-across-campuses-idUSKBN1YK0DD|title=India citizenship law protests spread across campuses|date=16 December 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=16 December 2019}} After this, the students and alumni of the university started protesting fiercely at Jamia Gate No. 7. This protest runs for more than two months at the same place till the COVID-19 lockdown.{{Cite web |title="Thought Cops Wouldn't Attack Women": Jamia Student Seen in Viral Video |url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/jamia-millia-islamia-student-seen-in-viral-video-thought-cops-wouldnt-attack-women-2149942%3famp=1&akamai-rum=off}}
= Investigation =
After the violence, Jamia's VC Najma Akhtar addressed the media where she condemned the police action and said that the police entered the campus without permission.{{Cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Sankalp Phartiyal, Aftab |last2=Ghoshal |first2=Devjyot |date=2019-12-18 |title='Night of horrors': Inside the Indian university stormed by police |language=en-GB |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.comarticle/idUSKBN1YL0JP/ |access-date=2023-11-19}} On 12 January, vice-chancellor Najma Akhtar said that she would approach the court to file an FIR against the Delhi Police. However, no FIR is filed yet. She also assured students that campus security would be improved.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/will-approach-court-for-filing-fir-against-delhi-police-jamia-vc/articleshow/73228403.cms|title=Will approach court for filing FIR against Delhi Police: Jamia VC|date=2020-01-13|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-01-25|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328100729/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/will-approach-court-for-filing-fir-against-delhi-police-jamia-vc/articleshow/73228403.cms|url-status=dead}} An internal probe by the Delhi police revealed that at least three bullets were fired during the crackdown.{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/government/jamia-millia-islamia-caa-protest-police-firing|title=Jamia Violence: Delhi Police Internal Probe Reveals 3 Bullets Were Fired, Says Report|website=The Wire|access-date=2020-01-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/948825/jamia-violence-two-delhi-police-officers-fired-guns-during-caa-protests-reveals-internal-inquiry|title=Jamia violence: Two Delhi police officers fired guns during CAA protests, reveals internal inquiry|website=Scroll.in|date=5 January 2020 |access-date=2020-01-25}}{{cite news |title=Jamia protests: Delhi Police fired in air in self-defence, say sources |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-protests-delhi-police-fired-in-air-in-self-defence-say-sources-1634139-2020-01-05 |access-date=15 February 2020 |work=India Today}}
On 30 January, Delhi Police identified photos of 69 people suspected of being involved in violence and rioting during the protest against CAA in Jamia Nagar.{{Cite web|url=https://www.molitics.in/news/143189/delhi-police-releases-photos-of-suspected-people|title=Jamia Violence: Police Releases Photos of 69 Suspected People|website=Molitics|access-date=2020-01-30}}
= Reactions =
Some celebrity alumni of Jamia, including Shah Rukh Khan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/say-something-youre-from-jamia-too-says-roshan-abbas-to-shah-rukh-khan-2427967.html|title=Say Something, You're From Jamia Too, Says Roshan Abbas to Shah Rukh Khan|website=News18|date=18 December 2019|access-date=2020-01-25}} Virender Sehwag,{{Cite web|url=https://thebridge.in/country-deserves-better-class-role-models/|title=The country deserves a better class of role models|date=2019-12-16|website=The Bridge|access-date=2020-01-25}} and Kabir Khan{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/jamia-millia-islamia-people-are-calling-out-bollywood-for-its-silence-and-spinelessness-on-student-protests_in_5df6fef2e4b047e8889f865f|title=Jamia Who? CAA What? Many Bollywood Stars Are Still Silent On Student Protests|date=2019-12-16|website=HuffPost India|access-date=2020-01-25}} were criticized for the failure to condemn the crackdown on their alma mater. Hollywood actor John Cusack extended his support to the protesting students of Jamia Millia Islamia and also condemned the police brutality inside the Jamia campus. Immediately after the incident, social media platforms were filled with tweets. Bollywood celebrities including Rajkummar Rao, Ayushmann Khurrana, Parineeti Chopra, Sidharth Malhotra, Huma Qureshi, Manoj Vajpayee, Anurag Kashyap, Anubhav Sinha, Vickey Kaushal, Richa Chadha, Tapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, Dia Mirza, Zeeshan Ayyub, Swara Bhaskar, Bhumi Pednekar and others have extended their support to protesting students by expressing their opinions over it on X(earlier twitter) and asking the government to maintain democratic decorum.
= Protests =
File:A protest tree outside the Jamia Millia Islamia campus on 15 Feb 2020.jpg
Protests were held in solidarity with Jamia students in several major universities across the subcontinent, including IIM Ahmedabad,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/protest-outside-iim-a-in-support-of-jamia-students-50-held/article30321091.ece|title=Protest outside IIM-A in support of Jamia students; 50 held|date=2019-12-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-01-25|agency=PTI|issn=0971-751X}} Banaras Hindu University,{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-act-protests-india-in-solidarity-with-jamia-from-mumbai-university-to-bhu-students-across-india-protest-police-brutality-on-demonstrators-at-amu-jamia-guwahati-university-7788241.html|title='In solidarity with Jamia': From Mumbai University to BHU, students across India protest 'police brutality' on demonstrators at AMU, Jamia, Guwahati University|last=|first=|date=2019-12-16|website=Firstpost|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217211444/https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-act-protests-india-in-solidarity-with-jamia-from-mumbai-university-to-bhu-students-across-india-protest-police-brutality-on-demonstrators-at-amu-jamia-guwahati-university-7788241.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |access-date=2020-01-25}} Dhaka University,{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/students-bangladesh-protest-with-jamia-millia-islamia-university_in_5dfaf0cfe4b0eb2264d3fdb7|title=Students In Bangladesh Protest In Solidarity With Jamia Millia Islamia And AMU|date=2019-12-19|website=HuffPost India|access-date=2020-01-25}} and IIT Bombay.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/3-iits-join-chorus-against-crackdown-on-jamia-amu-students/articleshow/72746964.cms|title=3 IITs join chorus against crackdown on Jamia, AMU students|date=2019-12-16|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-01-25}} Over 400 scholars from US universities including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, and Tufts issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with Jamia students.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/from-oxford-to-harvard-universities-abroad-see-protests-against-police-crackdown-in-jamia-amu/articleshow/72839850.cms|title=From Oxford to Harvard, universities abroad see protests against police crackdown in Jamia, AMU|date=2019-12-17|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-01-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/shocking-violence-harvard-yale-students-academics-condemn-police-action-in-jamia-amu/336509/|title='Shocking violence' — Harvard, Yale students & academics condemn police action in Jamia, AMU|last1=Sirur|first1=Simrin|date=2019-12-17|website=ThePrint|access-date=2020-01-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/students-from-premier-foreign-universities-protest-police-crackdown-in-jamia-amu-11576584115534.html|title=Students from premier foreign varsities protest police crackdown in Jamia, AMU|date=2019-12-17|website=Livemint|access-date=2020-01-25}}
JNU Teachers Association, along with the Jamia Teachers Association, held a candle march at India Gate on the evening of 23 December in protest against the unethical action taken by the administration against the students of Jamia and the beating of students by entering the college campus.
File:JTA with JNUTA at India Gate.jpg
Popular personality and leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Medha Patkar, Tushar Gandhi, Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Najeeb Jung Arundhati Roy{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2020-01-11 |title=Arundhati Roy visits Jamia, donates books to students |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/arundhati-roy-visits-jamia-donates-books-to-students/article30545422.ece |access-date=2023-11-19 |issn=0971-751X}} and Swara Bhaskar joined the student protest and address the students at gate no. 7 of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Bollywood director and producer Anurag Kashyap also came to visit the protest site of Jamia and interact with students. In his speech at the protest site, he said that he was excited to see the students of this country still alive and making their mark for rights and freedom in a democratic manner. He also raised the slogan of 'Inquilab Zindabad'.{{Cite web |last=Ara |first=Ismat |date=2020-02-15 |title='We need to reclaim the Constitution': Anurag Kashyap at the citizenship law protest at Jamia |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/02/15/we-need-to-reclaim-the-constitution-anurag-kashyap-at-the-citizenship-law-protest-at-jamia |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Newslaundry}}
File:Shashi Tharoor joins protesting student in jamia. - 01.jpg|alt=
File:Anurag Kashyap at jamia millia islamia - 01.jpg|alt=
File:Ex Delhi Governor Najeeb Jung at JMI - 01.jpg|alt=
= Further violence =
A juvenile Hindu nationalist opened fire at a protest at the Jamia Millia Islamia, injuring one student.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51308376|title=Student injured as man fires at university protest|date=2020-01-30|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-01-30}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/caa-protest-class-11-student-who-fired-at-jamia-protest-charged-with-attempted-murder-2172416|title=Class 12 Student Who Fired At Jamia Protest Charged With Attempted Murder|date=31 January 2020|work=NDTV news}} The event happened on the 72nd anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, also by a Hindu nationalist. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder. The man shouted slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" (Victory to Lord Rama) and "Delhi Police Zindabad" (Long live Delhi police).{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/videos/ivideos/man-opens-fire-in-delhis-jamia-at-anti-caa-rally-shouts-jai-shri-ram-yeh-lo-azadi-slogans-2479985.html|title=Man Opens Fire in Delhi's Jamia at Anti-CAA Rally, Shouts 'Jai Shri Ram, Yeh Lo Azadi' Slogans|website=News18|access-date=2020-02-03}} Before opening fire at the protestors, the attacker shouted "Kisko chahiye Azadi? Main Dunga Azadi" (Who wants freedom? I will give freedom).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/man-waves-gun-at-protesters-near-jamia-university-in-delhi-shouts-yeh-lo-aazadi-2172057|title=Massive Protests After Man Shoots Jamia Student, Shouts "Yeh Lo Azaadi"|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2020-01-30}}
On 2 February 2020, late at night when people were protesting, two unidentified men fired shots near gate 5 of the university, the third attack in the area after the second attack during the Shaheen Bagh protest. Though there was no casualty reported.{{cite news |title=Jamia firing: Two gunmen fire shots near gate 5 of university, third attack in area |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-milia-islamia-gate-5-firing-caa-shaheen-bagh-1642661-2020-02-03 |access-date=5 February 2020 |work=The India Today |date=3 February 2020}}
Protest called off
The Protests outside Jamia were called off by students in the initial weeks of the coronavirus outbreak and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced a lockdown as a precautionary measure to contain the coronavirus.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Video links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaY1LHCD8yE Interview with a victim who was blinded in one eye during the attack] by The Caravan magazine.
- [https://twitter.com/Jamia_JCC/status/1228772837583753216 CCTV footage of police brutality in old reading hall, M.A/MPhill section Jamia Library] by Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC).
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKv5ekeHngE Extended footage of Delhi Police brutality in PG reading room, Jamia Library] by The Maktoob Media.
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GY0CKCN5EM Footage from Jamia Library shows cops trying to vandalise CCTV] by The Quint
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGWYWV12Z34 Jamia Students Take Cover In Library As Police Fire Tear Gas] by The NDTV
- [https://www.altnews.in/jamia-violence-media-misreport-wallet-as-stone-in-students-hand/ Media misreport wallet as ‘stone’ in student's hand] by the AltNews.in
{{Citizenship Amendment Act protests}}
{{Campus violence in India}}
Category:Attacks on universities and colleges in Asia
Category:Attacks in India in 2019
Category:Attacks on schools in India
Category:Citizenship Amendment Act protests
Category:Police brutality in the 2010s
Category:Police brutality in India
Category:Attacks on schools in 2019
Category:December 2019 in India