India, Aug. 27 -- A widening rift between students and university administration at Jamia Millia Islamia deepened on Wednesday after security personnel forcibly broke up an indefinite sit-in at the Central Canteen. Demonstrators, led by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and supported by the Students' Federation of India (SFI), were protesting alleged systemic irregularities in the university's spot admission process and recent examination results. The crackdowns came on the third day of the peaceful occupation, with student representatives accusing the university's proctorial team and security guards of physically dragging protesters off campus grounds. At the heart of the unrest are growing allegations regarding the spot registration list, where high-ranked waiting list applicants allege they were bypassed in favor of lower-ranked candidates. Student bodies are demanding immediate transparency, full public disclosure of merit lists, and the resignation of the Controller of Examinations. Concerns were also raised over the unexplained suspension of the Jammu and Kashmir quota and recent administrative appointments. "The administration chose force over dialogue," the SFI Jamia unit said in a statement condemning the action, arguing that deploying security to clear a peaceful sit-in only underscores the institutional opacity students are fighting against.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.