DU students’ union joint secretary slaps professor, teachers demand university-level probe

Around 50 students, the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) alleged, entered the college along with DUSU President Aryan Maan and Joint Secretary and “mistreated teachers and demanded the resignation of the disciplinary committee convener.” The DTF said, “The Joint Secretary slapped Professor Sujit Kumar in the Principal’s office, CCTV footage of which is available.”

Condemning Jha’s action, the DTF warned, “..This mobocracy and hooliganism mentality must be stopped immediately, otherwise DU will be plunged into violence.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, Professor Sujit Kumar, who heads the disciplinary committee, said, “I only took action against an ABVP candidate because he was misbehaving with an NSUI candidate… I was not favouring a particular party. I think that is what bothered the ABVP members who slapped me today.” He said the incident took place around 4 pm in the Principal’s room. “I was slapped by the DUSU Joint Secretary. I was also asked to resign from my position… Action needs to be taken against such students who misbehave with teachers or else it will become very difficult for teachers to teach,” he said, adding that no such incident had occurred in his 30 years in the college.

A purported video shows that the incident occured in the presence of police officers. “A complaint has been received. The matter is being enquired, accordingly action will be taken,” said an officer.

Meanwhile, Jha claimed that she was called by students who complained of “politically motivated abuse and assault” by the professor. “In the Principal’s room, in the presence of police, Professor Sujit threatened and abused me. I complained to the police, but the police officers present took no action,” she said.

She alleged that the Professor “had come to the college in an inebriated state” and that his “repeated threats, staring at me, and making indecent remarks made me feel unsafe” . “Consequently, in a fit of rage, I resorted to assaulting him. I regret this incident and apologise to the entire teaching community… My intention was not to hurt the sentiments of the teaching community, but I am concerned about the safety of female students on the campus.”

In a statement, the NSUI called the incident “ABVP-led DUSU hooliganism” and said no action had been taken despite CCTV evidence. “Jha slapped a senior professor inside the principal’s office — in the presence of Delhi Police personnel. Disturbingly, the DUSU President was also present during this act of hooliganism,” it said.

NSUI National President Varun Choudhary stated, “This act of violence… is not just an attack on a professor but on the dignity of the entire academic fraternity… The silence of the administration and Delhi police shows the political pressure exerted by the BJP.” NSUI demanded the “immediate arrest of all those involved, including the DUSU Joint Secretary and President.”