Jamia Students’ Protest: AISA accuses assistant proctor of assault, university denies charge

Amid the ongoing protest by students of Jamia Millia Islamia’s Jammu and Kashmir Girls’ Hostel, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) on Saturday accused Assistant Proctor Maqsood Ahmad Malik of assaulting students, a charge denied by the university. Jamia officials, meanwhile, alleged that some protesters broke two hostel gates and manhandled members of the proctorial team late Friday night.

The protest entered its third day on Saturday after JMI students raised concerns over the quality of food served in the hostel mess, alleging that insects and other foreign objects had been found in the meals. The students are demanding the cancellation of the existing mess vendor’s contract, appointment of female staff in the mess and action against hostel authorities. They have also sought an assurance that no disciplinary action will be taken against students participating in the protest.

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Electricity was switched off near protesting site: AISA

AISA alleged that the university had failed to fulfil assurances given to students on the first day of the protest. The students’ organisation claimed that Malik manhandled and assaulted students near the Dean of Students’ Welfare office around 1 am on Friday after they resisted his alleged attempts to intimidate them. It further alleged that a student’s mobile phone was snatched while she was recording the incident.

AISA also alleged that electricity was switched off near the Centenary Gate, where the students were protesting, and that barricades were installed to isolate them. The university rejected these allegations, saying most of the students’ demands had been accepted on the first day and accusing the protesters of escalating the situation.

A Jamia spokesperson alleged that students had broken two gates of the girls’ hostel, "putting everyone's security at risk", and had manhandled members of the proctorial team. The university also said the protest was being held outside the designated protest site near Gate No. 18.

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On the electricity issue, university officials said lights in some parts of the campus are routinely switched off as part of energy conservation measures and maintained that the decision was not connected to the protest. They also questioned the timing of the demonstration, alleging that attempts were being made to create a "media spectacle" during the BRICS summit in the national capital, which began on Saturday.

The dispute follows an earlier protest during which Jamia had reportedly agreed to change the mess contractor at the Jammu and Kashmir Girls’ Hostel. Students later resumed their demonstration, alleging that the university had failed to fulfil the assurances given to them.

(With PTI inputs)