Delhi: Ambedkar university suspends 5 students after protest takes ‘confrontational’ turn

Speaking to The Indian Express, Registrar Navlendra Kumar Singh said protesters surrounded and physically blocked his vehicle, agitating to meet Vice-Chancellor Anu Singh Lather on Friday. He alleged his car was damaged and that police had to intervene to restore order.

“We have filed a police complaint and the FIR is yet to be registered. They want to meet the V-C but the V-C is not ready as their approach is aggressive. We are ready to address the issues of students but there needs to be a proper way to have a conversation,” Singh said.

Police said they have received a complaint.

Singh said the five students were suspended for actions that included obstructing official duties, threatening university staff, and compromising campus safety.

Friday’s incident came in response to AUD’s earlier decision to suspend three students on March 5. Those suspensions stemmed from a press statement issued by student activists concerning a suicide attempt by a first-year student, which the administration said presented misleading information.

“There was an incident of bullying at the Karampura campus. It is a personal issue amongst students and is being politicised by a section of the students right now,” Singh said.

An official, on condition of anonymity, said, “The administration met with students earlier and explained that since the High Court is involved in the matter of the three suspended students, the university will have to wait for the court’s directions. But on Friday, the situation grew uncontrollable…”

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), which is leading the protest, called the administration’s actions “arbitrary and repressive”. In a statement, the student body accused the university of “silencing dissent” and said “a group of students, including two elected student councillors, attempted to meet the Vice-Chancellor to seek accountability and open dialogue. Instead of dialogue, they were met with violence…”