DSMNRU Lucknow: SFI alleges police assault, injuries during campus protest

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has alleged that students were assaulted by Uttar Pradesh Police and people it described as associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during a protest at Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU), Lucknow, on September 26.

In a press release, SFI alleged that its members were protesting against what it described as a discriminatory policy of the university administration. The organisation claimed that several students, including its unit leadership members Isar, Satendra and Amit, sustained injuries during the incident.

SFI further alleged that police attempted to detain its members Rakesh Malik, Bhakti, Swati Singh and Amit Yadav, along with some other students. The organisation claimed that the students resisted the alleged detention.

The allegations made by SFI have not been independently verified. The university administration and Uttar Pradesh Police have not been quoted in the press release provided for this report.

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SFI alleges discriminatory campus policy

SFI alleged that the DSMNRU administration was allowing ABVP and RSS to organise programmes on the university campus while denying permission to other student organisations.

The student organisation described this as a "discriminatory administrative policy" and alleged that its protest on September 26 was met with police action and intervention by people it described as ABVP and RSS supporters.

The organisation also accused the university administration of attempting to "saffronise" the campus. This is an allegation made by SFI and has not been independently established.

SFI names students allegedly injured

According to the SFI statement, unit leadership members Isar, Satendra and Amit were among those who suffered injuries during the protest. It did not provide details of the nature or extent of their injuries.

SFI also alleged that police attempted to forcibly detain Rakesh Malik, Bhakti, Swati Singh and Amit Yadav, along with other students. The organisation said the students resisted the alleged detention.

"The Students' Federation of India (SFI) strongly condemns this repressive move," the organisation said in its statement, calling on students to unite against what it described as the "Admin-ABVP-RSS nexus."

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SFI says protest will continue

SFI said its campaign against the university administration would continue despite what it described as heavy police deployment on the campus.

The organisation called on students to oppose what it termed "anti-people policies" and said the protesting students remained committed to raising their concerns.