Jamia students take to the streets in anger over CAB

At least 42 students were detained and over 25 injured Friday after Delhi Police fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathi charge during a protest against the new citizenship law at Jamia Millia Islamia. “Forty-two students were detained, of which 10 are from DU. The protesters were asked not to hold the protest as they didn’t have permission. They pelted stones and police had to resort to mild lathi charge,” DCP (South East) Chinmoy Biswal said. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

The students plan to boycott exams on Saturday, as part of what they are calling a “university lockdown”. While the protest initially appeared to have ended by evening, students did not move away from the streets. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

By 7 pm, the large mass of students and locals had split into smaller groups who kept sloganeering at different places on the main road outside the campus. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

The anger was palpable, with students taking turns to kick and stomp on police barricades. At more than one place, copies of the Bill were set on fire. At the junction of two roads, locals took turns delivering speeches. The nearby Holy Family Hospital remained under a heavy security cover, with police not allowing entry until one could specify who they wanted to meet. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

With students refusing to disperse, another round of lathi charge took place around 7.15 pm. By 8:30 pm, large groups of police personnel and protesters had gathered outside Jamia’s gate number 1. While police maintained all 42 students detained earlier had been released, protesters refused to believe them and said they wouldn’t back down until everyone was let go. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

The violence earlier in the day had both sides on edge, with several protesters admitting they had pelted stones and even thrown back teargas shells, but “in retaliation”. “We are using a piece of cloth to cover our palms while throwing teargas shells back at the police,” said one protester, his face covered with a cloth. Police said about 25 teargas shells were used during the day. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Some protesters were seen carrying lathis and breaking pavement stones with iron rods to hurl them at the police. “If they are hitting us, should we just stand and watch? We did not want any of this,” said one protester. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Police maintained they had tried to reason with protesters, but in vain. Delhi Police additional PRO Anil Mittal said, “(Protesters) were persuaded to protest peacefully (at Jamia) and requested not to march towards New Delhi area. However, they got agitated and aggressively confronted police personnel. They broke barricades and indulged in stone pelting.” (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)