Delhi University suspends 3 law students after an alleged assault on teacher during DUSU poll campaigning

In another incident of assault on a teacher, the University of Delhi (DU) has suspended three law students on the basis of an FIR lodged by Delhi Police in connection with an alleged assault on a teacher during DUSU elections. The university has suspended Abhinav Kumar, Naman, and Abhimanyu Kumar from their course of studies with immediate effect under the Delhi University Act.

The university has also barred students from entering the premises, the official DU notice from the proctor’s office said. The action comes in response to an alleged assault on a DU teacher during DUSU campaigning.

As per media reports, a few days ago, faculty members of Motilal Nehru College (Evening) began an indefinite strike over an alleged assault on a teacher, hooliganism, and damage to public property during campaigning for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, the college's staff association.

September 16 incident during DUSU campaigning

The strike followed an incident on September 16, the final day of campaigning for the DUSU elections, when a teacher at the college was allegedly assaulted by a student campaigning for the polls.

Faculty members staged a protest on the same day, demanding action against the student. One teacher alleged that the faculty member was beaten and sustained serious injuries.

No action was taken by police, says faculty

A faculty member said that the DU administration and the police did not take any action after the allegations of assault that occurred during the DUSU campaign. The college faculty members therefore held an indefinite strike, suspending all academic activities till the incident was addressed.

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Similar incidents of assault on teachers

This isn't the first case of assault on a teacher. This year in August, after an alleged physical assault on a senior professor at the faculty of law, DU suspended a law PhD student and barred his entry into the campus with immediate effect. The university has also constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter and submit its report.

Last year in November, DUSU joint secretary Deepika Jha was suspended for two months for slapping Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College (BRAC) professor Sujit Kumar and pressuring other teachers regarding disciplinary committee decisions.

Following such incidents, several teachers' groups have repeatedly demanded strong action against such students and raised concerns over the safety of teachers at the university.