Security Beefed up at Jamia Millia Islamia As Student Protest Enters 17th Day; NSUI leaders Detained

New Delhi- The agitation by students of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) demanding restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) and a definite election schedule entered its 17th day on Wednesday amid heavy security deployment, sealed gates, online classes and fresh detentions.

Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel maintained a strong presence around the campus. Multiple gates remained shut, with heavy barricading in place. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita continued outside the university. The administration has extended online classes and mid-semester examinations until November 8. A wall was reportedly erected to seal Gate 4C connecting the men’s hostels with the north campus.

NSUI leaders Faizan (NSUI Jamia unit president) and Zeeshan (former NSUI social media chief) were detained by Delhi Police from Gate No. 4 and taken to an undisclosed location. Student groups and NSUI described the detentions as an attempt to suppress the demand for restoration of student union elections, stating that seeking this right is not a crime. The struggle, they said, will continue.

The university administration alleged widespread vandalism overnight on October 27, sharing visuals of broken windows and claiming that students, allegedly joined by some locals, forcibly entered parts of the campus, damaged Gate No. 4C, surveillance cameras, CCTV infrastructure and other property. Officials did not immediately clarify what action would be taken. Earlier in the agitation, graffiti including “Free Kashmir” and “Release Sharjeel Imam” had appeared on campus walls, drawing political controversy; the administration condemned the slogans.

Five students remain on hunger strike as part of the sit-in at the Ghulistan-e-Ghalib compound. The protest began on October 12 seeking revival of JMISU, which was dissolved in 2006 after the last elections in 2005. On Monday, the university issued an order stating that elections would be held within 15 days of approval of the union constitution, revoked suspensions and show-cause notices issued during the protest, and announced a committee to inquire into the conduct of security personnel. Students rejected the order as insufficient, demanding a binding timeline for constitution approval (preferably by December 20) and election notification.

Congress leader and AICC Media & Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera issued a strong statement in solidarity. He said: “That students of Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, have had to protest for over two weeks in 21st-century India to demand their fundamental freedom to form an elected students union, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution, is a damning commentary on the state of democracy in our country – especially from the perspective of youth. The administration even attempted to discredit and defame the protests by planting the narrative of ‘Islamist’ sloganeering. But when students demanded that CCTV footage be handed over to the police for identifying the culprits, the administration backtracked. The university eventually hid behind the excuse that all three cameras near the site of sloganeering were non-functional at the time – a lame excuse that exposes their complicity. The right to form a students’ union is essential to the realisation of the slogan ‘Educate, Agitate, Organise’ given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. The students of Jamia, like students across the country, are entitled to this right, and we stand in solidarity with their struggle.”

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah also extended support to the protesting students. In a video message, he criticised the government for undermining educational institutions, weakening democratic values and attempting to crush the spirit of young people. Referring to himself as a “Dimagi Naxal,” Shah said the repression faced by students at institutions including Jamia would not be forgotten and questioned how much further the government would go to break the courage of the youth and endanger democracy.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was likely to visit the campus to meet the protesting students. Security arrangements were intensified in view of the possible visit; some later reports suggested the visit was cancelled amid the heightened tensions and vandalism claims.

Student organisations including NSUI, SFI, AISA and others have reiterated that the demand for an elected students’ union is a basic democratic right and that the agitation will continue until a clear, time-bound commitment is received from the administration.