Jamia protest: FIR alleges gate lock broken, boundary wall scaled by Congress MPs during protest

An FIR registered in connection with the ongoing student protests at Jamia Millia Islamia has alleged unauthorised entry by Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood, occupation of an academic building by outsiders and damage to university property.

The FIR was registered at Jamia Nagar police station on October 25 following a complaint by university Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi. It concerns incidents during the agitation that began on October 12 over demands for the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU).

According to the complaint, Pratapgarhi allegedly entered the university campus on October 21 after breaking the lock of Gate No. 4A, while Masood allegedly entered on October 23 by scaling a boundary wall near Gafoor Nagar with the help of a ladder.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱

The complaint also refers to the visit of Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi, who was detained while on his way to the campus.

It mentions several other political leaders who allegedly visited the protest site without prior intimation to the university administration.

The registrar alleged that unauthorised persons had entered the campus and interfered with the normal functioning of the institution during the continuing protests.

𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱

A key incident mentioned in the complaint occurred on October 24, when outsiders allegedly occupied and locked the Department of Political Science building, obstructing normal academic activities.

The complaint further alleges that individuals who were neither students nor university employees entered the campus, defaced walls with objectionable graffiti and damaged university property.

It also refers to alleged manhandling of university employees, some of whom reportedly sustained injuries.

The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to criminal trespass, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, mischief, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and common intention.

Provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007, have also been invoked.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀' 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻

The agitation began on October 12, with students demanding the restoration of the JMISU, whose elections have not been held since 2006.

The protesters have also sought the withdrawal of disciplinary action against students participating in the agitation.

Amid escalating tensions, the university administration shifted classes across all courses to online mode, citing concerns over the safety and security of students.

The Students' Federation of India (SFI), Jamia unit, has alleged that police detained students outside Gate No. 7 and that university officials attempted to forcibly remove protesters, dismantle their tents and drag women students during a confrontation.

These allegations could not be independently verified.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The university has maintained that Gate No. 18 is the designated site for demonstrations and described the protest at the Gulistan-e-Ghalib lawns as an unauthorised occupation.

The administration has cited concerns over campus security, academic activities and the alleged involvement of outsiders in the agitation.

The registration of the FIR comes amid continuing differences between the protesting students and the university administration over the restoration of students' union elections and restrictions imposed during the demonstrations.