New Delhi, February 26 Police and JNU students clashed during a march by the students' union here on Thursday as police claimed that they were attacked by the protestors. The protesting students, many of whom have been detained, alleged excessive force against them.
Police said that protesters threw sticks and shoes and resorted to physical assault, injuring several police officers, some of whom were even "bitten" during the altercation.
The students clashed with the police at the college gate when protesters tried to take the rally out of the campus. JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, former president Nitish Kumar, and several others were detained, they said.
The students had called for a "Long March" from the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus to the Ministry of Education, police said in a statement.
The march was part of ongoing protests over the university's VC's recent remarks on a podcast regarding the implementation of UGC norms, the rustication of JNUSU office bearers, and the proposed Rohith Act.
The protesters have also alleged that excessive force was used against them, that many students were injured in the clash, and that some of them were taken to "unconfirmed locations" by the police.
According to police, the JNU administration had informed the protesting students that no permission had been granted for any protest outside the campus and advised them to restrict their demonstration within university premises.
Despite this, around 400-500 students gathered on the campus and began a protest march. At about 3:20 pm, the protesters moved out through the main gate and attempted to proceed towards the Ministry, police said.
"Barricades placed outside the campus were damaged as the situation escalated. The protesters threw banners and sticks, threw shoes, and resorted to physical assault. Some police personnel were bitten during the scuffle, resulting in injuries to several officers deployed at the spot," a senior police officer said.
Police personnel stopped the protesters at the North Gate of the JNU campus and gradually pushed them back inside the university premises.
"We have detained some of the protestors. Some protestors are leveling allegations that police manhandled them, which are completely baseless. Every single officer deputed there was maintaining law and order," the officer told
