India, Oct. 19 -- Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has had an elected students' union for just 13 years in its nearly 105-year history. The union was first formed in 1981-82, and Zubair Khan was its first elected president. The union was discontinued in 1997 and restored in 2005-06 following nearly a decade of struggle. Shams Perwaiz was elected president before the union was dissolved again in 2006, citing violence and disruption to academic life on campus.

Five students-Ebin Basil, Mohd Jasim Khan, Rehan Haider, Rehan Pawar and Faizan Ali Khan-have been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 12, demanding restoration of Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) elections

Perwaiz, 47, who is from Bihar's Champaran, said he was among...