A day after Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay released guidelines for organising events and protests on campus; one of the informal students’ collectives at the institute – IIT Bombay for Justice, has alleged that a silent gathering on children’s day (Tuesday, November 14) to remember Palestinian children who were killed in bombings was “obstructed by administration” but participants continued their silent solidarity vigil. On Tuesday, November 14, around 50 participants, including students and faculty members from the institute had come together for a solidarity congregation near the School of Management (SOM) building inside campus. The students’ collective released a statement on Thursday claiming that the campus security officials “aggressively ordered the group to disperse” and “confiscated stationery items that were brought for poster making” citing lack of prior approval. Stating that it was their fundamental right to hold a peaceful silent gathering to mourn the death of Palestinian children, the statement issued by the students’ collective alleged that that a significant number of security staff and police were present at the event and they “strongly believed that the institute’s high-handedness was totally uncalled for,” read the statement. The institute’s administration did not comment on the statement. However, as per the guidelines issued by the institute, participants are required to take prior permission from the institute and local police for protests of any form including protest marches or gatherings.
