Students at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, reclaimed the protest site inside the campus after hunger strikers were assaulted by forces personnel at dawn and later punished with rustication and campus ban. The protesters alleged that the proctor, the security adviser and several security guards arrived at the site around 5 AM and tore down their beds and tarpaulin sheets before forcibly removing them, leaving several injured." Jamia Millia Islamia's security personnel brutally assaulted us on the orders of the proctorial team and the security adviser," said Ebin Basil, who has been on hunger strike for six days along with Jasim Khan, a postgraduate student of International Studies, and Faizan Ali Khan, a first-year MA Gender Studies student. 

"They first tore down our beds and tarpaulin sheets before physically assaulting us. Several students were injured, and I was kicked in the stomach," said Ebin, who is also secretary of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) unit at the university. The protesters further alleged that some Delhi Police personnel in civilian clothes also attempted to forcibly remove them. Following the incident, the university administration sealed the campus, shutting down activities and closing all gates. The administration has also taken disciplinary action against the hunger strikers.

 In an order dated October 16, Ebin Basil was rusticated from his BA LLB course for one year and barred from entering campus, accused of participating in unauthorised gatherings, misbehaving with officials and circulating "misleading accounts".  The same day, Jasim Khan was banned from campus for six months for allegedly attempting to force entry through Gate No. 18 and obstructing CCTV installation. Ebin termed the rustication "arbitrary" and said he would continue his hunger strike until demands were met, asserting restoration of the students' union was their basic right. 

Faizan Ali Khan, president of NSUI unit, said, "Police are standing outside the university, and even on the streets, we are being beaten. Jamia is committing oppression against us. They are treating us like criminals when we are protesting for legitimate demands." The university also issued notice to PhD scholar and Fraternity Movement National General Secretary Lubaib Mohammed Basheer, directing him to vacate Ghalib Lawn where students have been gathering since October 12. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)