Jamia Millia Islamia Vice-Chancellor Najma Akhtar, she has said that she was exploring the possibility of filing an FIR against the Delhi Police after students gheraoed her earlier today, demanding the same. Over a 100 students gheraoed Akhtar and demanded that the administration file an FIR against the police for manhandling the students on December 15. They also demanded that the administration reschedule the examinations.
Akhtar said that the varsity administration will explore the possibility of moving court for registration of an FIR against the "police brutality". She also said that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has already begun the inquiry into the police action against the students. An NHRC team has already visited the university and another team is scheduled to come on Tuesday to record the statement of the "victims", she said.
"The gherao happened after the VC addressed the students this evening. She was not ready to give us specific answers to our questions. It's been almost a month since the police brutality, but she still hasn't filed an FIR. This is unacceptable," says Farheen Fatima, an MA Mass Communications student. On the night of December 15, the Delhi police had beaten up students of Jamia Millia Islamia, after they conducted a march protesting against the CAA and the NRC.
"We also want to know when will the normalcy return on campus," says Farheen. "She had previously said that no one can be held responsible for police enterring Jamia. After that, students had demanded her resignation. But today, she said that she's not going anywhere," she says.
In a statement, the university said the administration will take all possible measures to address the concerns of students. "A decision has also been taken that the administration will explore the possibility of moving the court for registration of FIR in the December 15, 2019 police brutality in the university library case at the earliest."
The students also alleged that the VC has been manipulative in many ways since the incident on December 15. "In her personal capacity, she asked a lot of women students to vacate the hostel. She also told them that the university administration won't be responsible for their safety," says Farheen.
For the past 32 days, the students of the university have been carrying out various forms of protest, demanding justice. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor spoke in solidarity with them on Sunday. Prominent faces including actor Nafisa Ali, Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Rajratan Ambedkar and MPs P K Kunjalikkutty and E T Muhammed Basheer also addressed the students on Monday.
