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Journalism of Courage
At least 12 students at Jamia Millia Islamia were detained by the Delhi Police on Friday during a march to mark 17 years of the Batla House encounter. Police said the action was taken only after students tried to come outside the premises and raised provocative slogans.
According to the students, the march has been held every year, except during the Covid years, in Jamia Nagar to demand a judicial probe into the death of two men, Atif Ameen and Mohammad Sajid, who were killed in the encounter. Students said they had discussed beforehand not to raise slogans or take any action that could lead to confrontation.
The Batla House encounter took place on September 19, 2008, following a series of blasts in the national capital in which 39 people died and 159 were injured. Police got a tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists inside a flat in Jamia Nagar, and a team led by Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma carried out a raid.
In the crossfire between terrorists and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, Inspector Sharma and Head Constable Balwant Singh were injured; Sharma later died of injuries. Two of the suspects, Md Atif and Md Sajid, also sustained injuries and later died.
Two other accused, Shahzad Ahmad and Ariz Khan, were arrested in 2010 and 2018. Both were sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The NHRC had given a clean chit to the Delhi Police and said there had been no violation of human rights. The Delhi High Court had also stood by this decision and dismissed a petition seeking a magisterial inquiry.
Students said their march, which was peaceful, was disrupted near the varsity’s Gate No. 7 — they were reportedly taken off campus and detained.
According to the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the incident occurred in broad daylight while the SHO of Jamia Nagar police station was present. It claimed the detained students included women, and that many students were taken outside Delhi.
Police, however, said the students raised provocative slogans and tried to confront staff inside the campus. “When they tried to come outside and hold a march, a total of 12 students were detained and released within two hours,” an officer said.
Nobody remains under detention, the officer added.
Mishkat Tehrim, AISA President, said, “I thought we would be safe inside campus… I have never seen something like this after the CAA-NRC protests.”
Saiyed Ishfaq, AISA Delhi State President, who was among those detained, alleged that students were forcibly picked up and dropped far away from campus, despite following all procedures for the march.
Ishfaq alleged, “The Jamia administration purposely left the gate open, creating confusion… I was detained on campus. Women students were dragged by guards…”
Police denied these claims and said no student was dragged. The Jamia administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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