New Delhi, January 6: The violence in JNU on Sunday, one of India's premier learning institutions, is surely one of the darkest hours when it comes to the security of students in Indian universities. Close to 50-60 masked men and women entered the university campus armed with sticks and iron rods and attacked students as well as teachers, injuring over 30, including the JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh. The masked goons also went on to vandalise hostel rooms and cars in the campus, according to several reports. The attack comes in the wake of massive students protests taking place against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and (National Register of Citizens) NRC. However, the JNU violence indicates a disturbing trend, that of violence, unrest and attacks taking place on university campuses in India. Violence in JNU: Masked Mob Attacks Students Inside Campus, JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh Severely Injured; Student Union Blames ABVP.
The attack has left observers stunned and students all over India have started to raise voice against the violence in JNU campus. Just weeks before the dastardly targeting of students in JNU on January 5, Delhi Police had allegedly entered the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia University and roughed up students, claimed the university body. The Aligarh Muslim University has also been under attack since the Jinnah portrait row.
Below Are Recent Incidents of Protest, Violence and Unrest in Universities in India
1. Rohith Vemula Suicide- University of Hyderabad, 2016
Suicide by Rohith Vemula, a PhD research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, who hanged himself in a hostel room on the campus on January 17, 2016, sparked massive protests by students across the university campuses across the country. The suicide also triggered a huge political storm with opposition parties launching a massive attack on the Centre over the issue.
2. JNU Sedition Row- February 9, 2016
The JNU sedition row, in which student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in February 2016 on charges of sedition in connection with the controversial event held where allegedly anti-India slogans were raised in JNU campus had triggered widespread protests. The case soon moved from the confines of the university campus and made national headlines.
3. Jadavpur University Row Over Babul Supriyo's Visit- September 2019
Mass violence took place in West Bengal's premier Jadavpur University when Union Minister Babul Supriyo visited the campus to attend a seminar organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS. BJP MP Babul Supriyo was manhandled and heckled by the students and the protests grew later when alleged ABVP members ransacked the university offices and the JU gate was set on fire.
4. Aligarh Muslim University, Jinnah Portrait Row - May 2018
Unrest in Aligarh Muslim University over the portrait of Mohammed Ali Jinnah led to protests by those who opposed the picture of Jinnah in central university. A BJP MP asked what was Jinnah's portrait doing in the university and wrote to the university Vice Chancellor, objecting to the portrait. Tensions escalated after right-wing protesters entered the campus and wanted the Pakistan founder’s portrait removed from the student union office.
5. Jamia Millia Islamia University, CAA/NRC Protests - December 2019
The students of Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi held protests against CAA and NRC, opposing the controversial citizenship law. However, on the night of December 15, the Delhi Police allegedly entered Jamia Millia Islamia and roughed up students. Police Enters Jamia Millia Islamia Campus to Nab 'Outsiders' Involved in Violence During Anti-CAA Stir.
These were only few of the incidents where violence ran amok on the campuses of universities. Other cases of hooliganism have been reported from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Himachal University over various issues. The disturbing trend points toward a menace which if not curbed, could prove detrimental for India's education and higher learning.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 06, 2020 03:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).