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What began on October 12 over student representation demands has led to online classes, heavy police deployment, barricading, and allegations of physical confrontations on campus
Jamia Millia Islamia (Representative Image)
Protests at Jamia Millia Islamia have entered their 14th day, with the situation escalating into an impasse between student protesters and university administration.
What began on October 12 over student representation demands has led to online classes, heavy police deployment, barricading, and allegations of physical confrontations on campus.
Protesters are calling for the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU), which was disbanded in 2006 following campus violence and academic disruptions. A group of students is on a hunger strike as negotiations remain stalled. Citing safety concerns, the university administration announced on Saturday that physical classes would be moved online.
Security personnel and Delhi Police officials have been heavily deployed, particularly at Gate No. 4 (the entrance to the student hostel). Entry has been restricted by the administration for student safety.
THE CORE DEMANDS AND THE ROAD AHEAD
Hammad, Jamia Student Delegation & Core-Committee Member: “The University is being shut sine die. The administration is building walls to stop students from entering. The protest is our democratic right and shutting the classes and library because of that is a crackdown. We have shown utmost restraint in reacting to the physical assault by the senior teaching and non-teaching staff… yet the electricity is shut and no facilities at the campus are being provided as students continue their stir. We have been dealing with the administration and met with the high-level committee for four rounds of discussions, but the talks have ended in a deadlock… The administration is trying their best to repress this protest. We don’t have any hatred towards the institution. We love our university and we are protesting responsibly—we are not going to do anything that will tarnish the image of our esteemed university. We will continue our protest and appeal to the committee to open a space for dialogue where we can both arrive at a resolution.”
Amid the deadlock on the talks, in an exclusive report, CNN-News18 found that new walls are being constructed at one of the gates of Jamia to obstruct the students who are scaling up the walls to enter into the campus. The administration has initiated the construction of cemented walls at a few gates which provided entry to the IGNOU students.
At A Glance
Protests at Jamia Millia Islamia have entered their 14th day over demands for the restoration of the student union disbanded in 2006.
The university administration moved physical classes online and increased heavy police and security personnel deployment at campus gates.
IGNOU distance-learning students arriving to submit assignment papers found access barred without prior notice due to campus closures.
Student protesters alleged physical confrontation, harassment by guards, electricity shut-offs, and administrative attempts to repress the demonstrations.
Students who are coming at the gate are being told to leave as access is completely barred for anyone to enter into the campus. One of the students of Jamia from this spot has called this move a ‘never seen before’ moment in the history of protests at Jamia in our report. Police deployment at the gates is significantly increased as well.
IMPACT ON DISTANCE LEARNING (IGNOU) STUDENTS
Students arriving at the campus to submit assignment papers found all access barred without prior notice. As the University shuts its classes in physical mode, we find a group of students from IGNOU who arrive at the campus to submit their papers ahead of the deadline but find its gates locked.
In a conversation with CNN-News18, the students alleged that they were not made aware of the developments at the campus level and as they are pursuing their individual academic courses in distance mode, the University has left them in a tough condition.
One of the MA in Geography students said, “Students from all across the University were not told about the action of the University & now we are stuck. What should be done, we have our respective deadlines too.”
FEMALE STUDENTS MANHANDLED, ALLEGE HARASSMENT BY STAFF
Female students at the Jamia campus allege harassment by the guards while at the protest.
One of the protesters who were at the physical confrontation yesterday with the guards during the protest speaks exclusively to CNN-News18 and reveals that the campus is practically shut now.
Mantasha, who is a part of the AISA Jamia, asserted that the demands of the students will continue and even though the administration has initiated disciplinary action against those protesting, the students won’t leave the campus.
She alleged that informally, the warden at the girls’ hostel is asking students to vacate the campus immediately. She further stressed that yesterday, electricity was cut off at the campus and the hostel for students. “My heart broke down in a thousand pieces when I saw my own professors who I have looked up to for years, resorting to manhandling students yesterday. We also cried for help as the teaching & non-teaching staff together yesterday tried to physically stop us,” she said.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Students have been protesting since October 12, 2026, demanding the official restoration and election schedule for the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU), which has been disbanded since 2006, along with the withdrawal of disciplinary actions against demonstrators and the resolution of various academic and hostel concerns.
Ask News18About the Author
Simran Babbar is a Senior Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering key developments in emerging sectors related to education and investigations. Through her reports, she brings significant updates from t…Read More
October 25, 2026, 7:07 PM IST
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