Jamia violence: 6 expelled, show-cause to 20 others | India News

NEW DELHI: Jamia Millia Islamia has expelled six students and barred them from seeking admission to any programme in the university for up to three years over their alleged involvement in a violent clash that took place on the campus last month.The university has also issued show-cause notices to 20 other students in connection with the incident. The notices were issued on April 28.The disciplinary action follows a violent confrontation between two student groups on April 25 near the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kaushal Kendra inside Gate Number 8 of the campus. According to the notices, what started as a brawl quickly escalated into large-scale violence, with students and outsiders allegedly using lathis, stones and other dangerous weapons to attack each other and disrupt peace on campus.One of the expulsion orders, addressed to a student from the diploma in civil engineering course, stated: “The rioting groups pelted stones and bricks on each other near ‘Hygenic Point’ cafe… The mob shouted at the students, staff and visitors and used abusive language to inflict terror amongst them. When the security staff and university officials tried to intervene, the mob hurled abuses and used unparliamentary language and also physically assaulted some of the guards on duty.”The notice further added that the rioting groups moved from the South Campus to the North Campus through Gate Number 7 and continued attacking students, staff and university property, including the central library. “They continued their rampage for hours…put the lives of innocent students, staff, faculty members and visitors in danger…This large-scale violence and lawlessness disturbed the peaceful and tranquil environment of the campus and created panic and chaos...”“The violence also resulted in disturbance in the lab exams, central library functioning and classroom teachings which ultimately spoiled the academic and research environment of Jamia Millia Islamia,” the notice stated.The six expelled students belong to different faculties, including the Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, MBA and Yoga Studies. The duration of their debarment varies, with a maximum of three years for at least four of the students and one year for two of them. The disciplinary action includes making the campus “out of bounds” for the expelled students, and directing them to surrender university-issued ID cards and vacate hostels within a week.The university has also filed a police complaint against these students in the Jamia Nagar police station for allegedly creating the violence. There was no response from Delhi Police regarding a request for details on the action taken in response to the complaint.The expulsion notices also mentioned past disciplinary action against these students, including earlier show-cause notices and a fine imposed after recommendations from the disciplinary authority. Similarly, the show-cause notice issued to the 20 other students cited their involvement as “one of the key plotters” of the violence. The notice repeated the same description of events and consequences as in the expulsion notice, noting that their actions amounted to “criminal conspiracy to disturb the law and order and the regular academic and administrative functioning of the university.”The notice asked the students to respond within seven days: “You are directed to explain why action should not be taken against you… If your reply is not received within the stipulated time, strict action will be taken.”The university administration has termed the April 25 incident as a serious breach of discipline and law. It said the involvement of outsiders in the mob and the subsequent media coverage had “tarnished the image of the university in the public eyes.”The notice detailed how the mob allegedly assaulted guards and staff, terrorised students, and eventually escaped by breaking open the lock of the rear gate of the North Campus. “When the heavy police force from nearby police stations reached, the mob took shelter in the common facilities, under construction sites, academic blocks and library and eventually managed to escape…”No immediate response was available from vice-chancellor Mazhar Asif or his office regarding the developments.