Jamia objects to police entry in campus

Taking exception to plain-clothed police personnel entering Jamia Millia Islamia University premises without permission, the university authorities have written to the Delhi police demanding suitable action against them.

In a separate appeal to the students, the dean of students’ welfare, Tasneem Meenai, informed them that the police or Intelligence Bureau did not conduct any raid in the Hall of Residence for Boys on Saturday.

“The DCP (southeast) has been requested to take suitable action against the defaulting police personnel. I appeal the students to maintain calm on campus and believe we should work constructively to protect the image of the university,” she said.

Chief proctor Mehtab Alam, in his letter to the DCP, urged him to identify the police personnel involved in the incident and take suitable action against them. “The police staff should be advised to follow the instructions of the chief proctor on the university campus,” he said.

On the other hand, a group of students issued a statement alleging that these routine police visits were actually part and parcel of the stereotyping of the university in particular and Jamia in general. “We have seen how members of the dalit and minority communities are falsely implicated in criminal and terrorist cases and framed without evidences,” they said.

“It is the responsibility of the Jamia administration to ensure that no Jamia student is turned into fodder for the Islamophobic propaganda, ahead of crucial junctures such as Independence Day and ahead of the UP elections. We students can’t be kept under constant surveillance and made scapegoats for anti-minority propaganda,” the statement added.

Scores of Jamia Millia Islamia students had staged a protest on Saturday, alleging that the Delhi police made surprise checks in their hostels without permission. While the students dubbed them as raids, police officials maintained that they were part of routine checks being conducted in that area ahead of Independence Day.