14 JNU students arrested, released on bail after clash with Delhi Police

“The accused persons are students and not habitual offenders. They have their entire career lying ahead,” the court reasoned, while ordering for their release.

Notably, the court also recorded that MLCs of some of the accused persons reported injuries sustained by them and following an inquiry from the court, the students submitted that they were “dragged and assaulted by police officers”.

Those arrested included former JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Nitish Kumar, its current president Aditi Mishra, vice-president Kizhakoot Gopika Babu, and joint secretary Danish Ali.

The JNUSU, however, described the bail relief as “liberty on paper but jail in reality”. In a statement, it said the bail conditions require verification of the students’ permanent addresses before release — a process it argued could delay their freedom because most of them are from outside Delhi. It said pleas to allow the students to appear daily before the investigating officer until verification was completed were not entertained.

“Since all of the students are originally from out of Delhi, hence, the process of verification itself becomes the process of elongating the imprisonment,” the statement said. It also claimed that several students had suffered injuries during the protest and that the upcoming court holidays would further slow the process.

The union contended that the very grant of bail suggested that the grounds of arrest were “flawed” and “politically motivated,” and that imposing stringent conditions had “turned justice into its own travesty.”

According to the police, 51 protesters were detained on Thursday after clashes broke out near the university’s North Gate when students attempted to march despite being denied permission to hold a protest outside the campus.

According to officials, the university administration had informed students that no permission had been granted for a protest outside the campus grounds and had asked them to restrict any demonstration to university premises. Despite this, they said, about 400 to 500 students gathered around 3:20 p.m. and began moving towards the gate.

In a statement, the police said that barricades were damaged and that the protest turned “violent”. Some protesters allegedly hurled banners, sticks and shoes; while a few “went to the extent of physically assaulting by biting” police personnel, the statement added. Several officers were injured, police said.

The protesters were eventually pushed back inside the campus, police said. “Protestors were detained, who had become violent & did not obey lawful orders,” the statement said.

Late on Thursday night, Vasant Kunj North police registered an FIR under Sections 221 (voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the discharge of official duties), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from performing duty), 132 (assault or use of criminal force to prevent a public servant from carrying out official work) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The students’ union, however, contested the police version, alleging excessive force and misconduct. In a statement, the JNUTA condemned what it described as “brutal use of force” against students and demanded their immediate release. The teachers’ body also said female students were among those injured and alleged that “even the laws prohibiting male policemen from acting against women were brazenly flouted.”