Jamia Millia Islamia University on Friday turned into a battleground between police and students, who wanted to march to Parliament House to protest the Citizenship Amendment Act, reaching the spot with AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to take stock of the situation. Clashed with each other.
Fifty students were detained following a clash between policemen and students when protesters were stopped at the Varsity Gate and stopped to march.
The students were lathi-charged by police personnel, the students alleged that the police also used tear gas to carry out their marches. Students also resorted to stone-pelting. However, the protesters alleged that the police first pelted stones and the students pelted stones in response to the attack.
In a video broadcast by students on social media, police are shown canning the protesters. Police had laid siege to the road and protesters were seen climbing the barricades. The university’s gate was later closed.
“We were marching peacefully and the police stopped us from marching. First, they asked us to move backward. Then they threw stones in response, in which the students also picked up stones, ”said Onaheza, a law student from Jamia.
Another student alleged that the police pelted stones and then used tear gas which injured several students.
The police, however, denied the allegations.
The students started the march. We had barricades which they broke and tried to jump on them. Then they threw stones at us, forcing us to use tear gas shells. The students have been detained and taken to Badarpur police station, ”said a senior police officer present at the stop.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) field MLA Amanatullah Khan arrived at the scene to take stock of the situation.
As a precaution, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), on the advice of the Delhi Police, closed the entry and exit points at Patel Chowk and Janpath metro stations.
“As advised by Delhi Police, entry and exit at Patel Chowk and Janpath have been closed. DMRC said on Twitter, trains will not stop at these stations. The stations opened an hour later.