Days after the controversy over Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University students screening the controversial BBC series on PM Narendra Modi, the Delhi Police on Friday detained around 20 people from outside the Faculty of Arts at the University of Delhi after Bhim Army Student Federation for trying to screen the controversial BBC documentary inside the campus.
Soon after the authorities got to know about the screening scheduled by two groups, the NSUI, and the Bhim Army Student Federation, for 4 pm and 5 pm respectively, section 144 was imposed in Delhi University’s Faculty of Arts.
As soon as they started screening, the security guards outside the gate ran inside the campus and detained the students who were trying to screen the documentary. The group then moved towards the gates of the art faculty campus and started protesting inside.
Speaking to the media, DCP North said, “We are standing outside the Arts Faculty gate at DU. The situation is normal. Around 4 pm, 20-25 people came here to screen a banned BBC documentary. They were told to go back as it is banned. When they didn’t, they were detained and the situation became normal.”
The DCP further said, “Some students went inside and perhaps attempted (to screen it) but failed. Later, a few more people gathered and Police handled the law and order situation outside well.”
Chirag Jha, a third-year student at University alleged, “After students gathered, the security guards of university and the police personnel manhandled those students.”
“If the government claims that this documentary is false, then they should allow people to watch it so that we can build our own opinion about it, banning a documentary makes it more sceptical for youth, specially students,” Jha added.
Police detained students in front of the University Plaza gate, before All students, majorly belonging to the NSUI, were detained and put in a bus after 4 pm. The police asked everyone to clear the premises.
However, Uthara, a 2nd year journalism student alleged that a group of 30-40 students also started raising religious slogan to intimidate protesting students.
Speaking to ANI on protests and detentions, Delhi University proctor Rajni Abbi said that no permission had ever been sought from the authority and no permission was given.
She further asserted that the I-cards of those who were detained will be checked and it will be determined if they are students of Delhi University or not. “If they are from outside Police will take action and if they are from DU, appropriate action will be taken against them,” added Abbi.