Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has once again transformed into a battleground following a late-night confrontation during an “Equality March.” What began as a student-led demand for the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation ended in chaos, injuries, and a sweeping police case against the university’s elected student representatives.
The march was organized to protest controversial remarks by VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, who suggested in a recent interview that communities should avoid “playing the victim card”—a statement the JNUSU has branded as “blatantly casteist.”
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The Night of the Clash: Staves, Stones, and Shelters
The violence broke out as the march proceeded through the campus. According to student accounts:
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The Attack: JNUSU claims ABVP members intercepted the march with sticks and stones, forcing students to flee.
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The Library Siege: Many protesters sought refuge inside the Central Library, claiming they spent the night in “fear and uncertainty” while rival groups patrolled outside.
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The Counter-Claim: The ABVP alleges that the march was a front for “masked Left-wing goons” who harassed students in reading rooms and attacked activists who tried to intervene.
The FIR: Serious Charges for Union Leadership
Based on a complaint by the University’s Chief Security Officer, the Delhi Police filed an FIR at the Jhunsi-area jurisdiction (Vasant Kunj North).
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Charges: The case includes rioting, wrongful restraint, and assault on public officials (security guards).
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The Targets: Specifically named are “JNUSU leaders and their associates.”
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The Context: This follows the earlier rustication of several leaders for vandalizing facial recognition systems, a move the union was actively protesting during the march.
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Rival Narratives: “Impunity” vs. “Masked Mobs”
The aftermath has seen a flurry of media conferences. The ABVP paraded injured students before cameras, claiming a “murderous intent” by their rivals. Conversely, the JNUSU accused the Delhi Police and JNU Security of standing by while “organized hooliganism” took place with full impunity. Registrar Ravikesh has since issued a warning that strict action will be taken under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Reality Check
The “Equality March” was intended to challenge a perceived anti-Dalit bias. Still, the resulting violence has shifted the focus entirely to campus discipline and law and order. Therefore, while the ideological debate over the VC’s remarks is valid, the destruction of public property—including the library’s security systems—is what provided the legal grounds for the current FIR. In fact, JNU’s administrative stance has hardened significantly, moving away from “proctorial inquiries” toward direct police intervention.
The Loopholes
The JNUSU leaders were present on campus despite being rusticated. In fact, this points to a major enforcement loophole in the university’s security protocol; rusticated students are technically barred from campus, yet they successfully led a massive mobilization. Therefore, the administration is using the “assault on public officials” charge to close this gap by involving criminal law. Still, the “Masked Goon” narrative remains a loophole for both sides; without clear CCTV footage, identifying specific perpetrators in a night-time scuffle remains notoriously difficult for the police.
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What This Means for You
If you are a student or faculty member at JNU, expect heightened surveillance and restricted movement near the administrative block. First, be aware that the Delhi Police presence on campus is likely to increase as they investigate the rioting charges. Then, if you are planning to join the march to the Education Ministry on Thursday, realize that the current FIR makes any further unrest a high-risk activity for your academic record.
Finally, understand that the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) is being invoked for the first time in these campus cases. You should familiarize yourself with the stricter penalties for “unlawful assembly” under the new code. Before visiting the library, check for any new entry restrictions, as the “lockdown” situation may lead to temporary closures of academic buildings for “security audits.”
What’s Next
The JNUSU is preparing for a “show of strength” march to the Ministry of Education this Thursday. Then, the police are expected to summon union leaders for questioning regarding the Sunday night violence. Finally, look for the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to potentially intervene in the row over the VC’s “victim card” remarks, which could add a federal dimension to the campus dispute.
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