AUD students allege manhandling, campus-wide power cut on day 16 of sit-in; university denies

The All India Students’ Association (AISA) has alleged that the Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) security personnel manhandled the students, including women, and the campus electricity supply was cut off during an attempt to screen the documentary ‘Jai Bhim Comrade’ on day 16 of the students protest.

Meanwhile, according to the Ambedkar University Delhi administration, a group of students was holding a sit-in protest at an unauthorised location without prior permission. There was no electricity cut on campus, the university claimed.

"When officials of the University Administration attempted to initiate dialogue with the students to defuse the situation, they were subjected to abusive and inappropriate behavior. Observing that the situation was becoming unmanageable, and keeping in view the safety and security of the campus and other students, the University Administration informed the police authorities," AUD administration said.

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Students demand were addressed, resolved: AUD admin

The university also clarified that all the genuine and permissible demands raised by the students sitting on the protest had already been positively addressed and resolved by the administration.

"Despite this, such acts of indiscipline, causing damage to University property and manhandling security personnel this evening are highly unfortunate and condemnable. Keeping in view the dignity of the University, a safe academic environment, and the bright future of thousands of other students, appropriate action in accordance with the University rules and disciplinary provisions will be ensured with regard to this incident," the university said.

A student activist was also confined by AUD security personnel during a confrontation over access to the campus library, according to an official statement from AISA.

“As students proceeded to post white paper charts on the students' democracy wall to prepare for the screening at 6 pm, AUD security personnel tore down the chart papers and manhandled students including women students,” AISA said.

The AUD students alleged that the administration “forcefully” turned off the electricity in the entire campus leading to all the lights in the campus shut down. Dharmendra Kumar, a security supervisor, walked off meanwhile was spotted by the students and the latter rushed to ask the supervisor as to why the electricity was cut off.

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Violence at Ambedkar University Delhi campus

The supervisor shouted at the students that working time was only till 5:30 pm while the students reminded him that the university including the library stays open till 8 pm.

“The SO walked off towards the other side of the iron gates escaping all accountability just like the AUD administration has done since the iron gates were installed inside the campus of Ambedkar University Delhi,” it added.

Students were also not allowed back inside the campus to access the library reading room or get back their bags and accessories at around 6:45 pm, AISA said.

“This led to further confrontation by the administration that was completely unnecessary. The students seeking accountability and demanding that the electricity be restored in the campus stormed the gates before the Dara Shikoh museum,” it added.

Some students managed to reach the other side of the iron gates, through an open side gate and the security personnel brutally manhandled and injured these students, it said.

Afterwards, the students continued their film screening on a laptop on the protest site itself. Students have long raised their voice against the iron gates regime of the AUD administration ever since these iron gates were installed.

Meanwhile, the administration argues that these gates are important for their safety even as students have long pleaded that this segregation of the Kashmere Gate campus has forced them to use the backgate adjacent to the Madarsa road creating significant safety concerns for women students.