Police, students injured in clash during JNUSU protest march, over 50 detained
New Delhi (PTI): Police and JNU students were injured after they clashed during a march by the students' union here on Thursday, with police claiming that they were assaulted but the protesters, many of who have been detained, alleged that the cops used excessive force against them.
Saying protesters pelted sticks and shoes and resorted to physical assault, injuring several cops, some of whom were even "bitten" during the altercation, police lodged an FIR against the students.
Police said around 25 police personnel, including ACP Ved Prakash, ACP Sanghamitra, SHO Atul Tyagi and SHO Ajai Yadav, were injured.
JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aditi Mishra, former president Nitish Kumar were among the 51 protesters detained after the students clashed with the police at the college gate when they tried to take the rally out of the campus.
The students had given a call for a "Long March" from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus to the Ministry of Education office, police said in a statement.
The march was part of the ongoing protests over JNU Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit's recent remarks on a podcast over the implementation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, rustication of JNUSU office bearers, and the proposed Rohith Act.
The protesters also alleged that excessive force was used against them due to which many students were injured. Some of the protesters were taken to "unconfirmed locations" by the police, claimed the university's teachers' body.
The JNUSU also alleged that a portrait of B R Ambedkar was damaged during the police action. Purported videos of the clash surfaced online, including one showing an Ambedkar photo snatched from the protesters. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.
According to police, the JNU administration had informed the protesting students that no permission had been granted for any protest outside the campus and advised them to restrict their demonstration within university premises, police said.
Despite this, around 400-500 students gathered on campus and began a protest march, they said. Around 3.20 pm, the protesters moved out through the main gate and attempted to proceed towards the ministry.
"Barricades placed outside the campus were damaged as the situation escalated. The protesters pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes and resorted to physical assault. Some police personnel were bitten during the scuffle, resulting in injuries to several officers deployed at the spot," a senior police officer said.
Police personnel stopped the protesters at the North Gate of the JNU campus and gradually pushed them back inside the university premises.
"We have detained some of the protestors. Some protestors are levelling allegations that police manhandled them which are completely baseless. Every single officer deputed there were maintaining law and order," the officer told PTI.
In a statement issued, the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) condemned what it said was "brutal use of force" by police. It alleged that several students, including women, were injured and expressed concern over the well-being of those detained, claiming some were taken to "unconfirmed locations".
JNUTA also alleged that the police action was aimed at preventing students from exercising their democratic right to march and demanded the immediate release of all detained students.
The JNUSU issued an urgent appeal asking supporters to gather at the JNU main gate in the evening as many students had been detained by the police.
The university in an official statement said, "JNUSU protestors are demanding UGC regulations to be implemented. This is in violation of the Honorable Supreme Court which issued a stay on the regulations. JNU Vice Chancellor or Registrar have no powers over the regulations."
It added that as per the university administration, JNUSU has "refused to address the core issue of students who were rusticated for "vandalism and violence" unleashed inside the campus.
"The students involved were held responsible and rusticated, following a proctorial inquiry," read the statement.
"JNU is a public university hence accountable to the government, the Parliament and the Indian taxpayers. It is deplorable that a woman OBC Vice Chancellor is instead attacked on false allegations, only to divert from the issue of violence and vandalism of public property," the university said in its statement.
Police have registered an FIR against the students under BNS sections 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 3(5) (common intentions) at Vasant Kunj North police station.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
8 cheetahs from Africa to arrive at MP's Kuno National Park on Saturday
Sheopur (MP) (PTI): Eight more cheetahs will be airlifted from Africa and brought to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday morning, an official said on Friday.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav will release the big cats into enclosures readied at the park under the ongoing cheetah revival programme in India via intercontinental translocations, he added.
The batch from Botswana, comprising six females and two males, will fly to Gwalior between 9 pm and 10 pm on an Indian Air Force aircraft, Cheetah Project Director Uttam Sharma told PTI.
ALSO READ: Physiotherapist from Assam found dead near his rented house in Odisha’s Cuttack district
From Gwalior, two IAF helicopters will transport the cheetahs to Kuno National Park, where they are expected to arrive between 9 am and 10 am on Saturday. The flight duration from Botswana to Gwalior will be around nine to 10 hours, he said.
This will be the third batch of cheetahs arriving from Africa, following earlier introductions from Namibia and South Africa, he added.
With this, the number of cheetahs in India will rise to 46.
Sharma said enclosures have been prepared at the park, where the cheetahs will remain in quarantine for about a month.
The park has five helipads to facilitate their safe landing, he added.
Like the last time, the IAF will assist the cheetah revival programme by bringing them from Africa, just as it did when transporting the cursorial animal from SA in February 2023, Sharma said.
Earlier, eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia to Gwalior on a private jet in September 2022, after which IAF helicopters transported them to the park, he said.
"The arrival of more cheetahs will strengthen India's cheetah revival programme. With the support of the central government, we aim to increase the population to 50 as soon as possible," Sharma said.
Three big cats were later relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, while 35 remain at Kuno National Park, he said.
According to officials, endangered animals are not kept in a single habitat due to the risk of disease outbreaks that can wipe out their entire population at one go.
The cheetah, the world's fastest land animal, became extinct in India nearly seven decades ago.
Last year, India saw the birth of 12 cubs, though six, including three cubs, did not survive. This year, between February 7 and February 18, eight cubs were born in two litters.
In all, 39 cubs have been born at KNP since 2023, of which 27 have survived.
Namibia-born Jwala and Aasha, South Africa-born Gamini, Veera and Nirva, and India-born Mukhi have all produced litters at KNP, officials said.
Three cheetahs have been moved to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district, while 35 remain at KNP, they added.
