Watch: Police beat JNU teachers, students during peaceful protest

The Delhi police on Friday ordered a lathi charge and fired water canons on thousands of Jawaharlal Nehru University students and teachers near INA market. They were marching towards Parliament to protest the removal of several department heads and a coordinator for not complying with the university’s new attendance rules.

Several videos and images of the police action have been posted on Twitter. Twenty students were arrested. Some of them were taken to Haus Khas police station and others to the Defence Colony Delhi Police Licensing Unit station, which deals with the licensing of arms and arms offences. After CPI(M) Politbureau member Suhasini Ali and Congress leader Ashok Tanwar arrived at the police station, the students have reportedly been released.

National Herald spoke to some students at the protest:

Participants at the march have also been uploading images and videos of the shocking police action. According to demonstrators, the police were stopping them from marching towards Parliament as they were not granted permission for the protest.

Senior Delhi Police officials could not be reached over phone for their comments.

The JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTU) and students of JNU were marching also to demand suspension of Professor Atul Johri, who has been accused of sexual harassment by eight students.

The JNU teachers are protesting against the removal of several department heads and a coordinator for not complying with the university's new attendance rules, and a number of them are on a hunger strike. The association said the university's administration has not reached out to the faculty members who have been on the hunger strike for the past three days. It has also demanded that the management withdraw its notification removing the department heads and other circulars issued without consulting relevant university authorities.

Speaking to National Herald, Ashok Tanwar, a former student of JNU and president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee said Delhi Police, which comes under Home Minister Rajnath Singh has brutally beaten up the students. “It is a part of a systematic assault on JNU. RSS-BJP have been trying to saffronise the campus. From appointments to seat cut to removing scholarships, everywhere there is RSS hand,” said Tanwar.

More videos of the police action can be seen below:

With inputs from Vikrant Jha and agencies.