On July 18, 2024, police used batons to beat students associated with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) as they were protesting outside Rajasthan University (RU) to demand student union elections. Eighteen students were detained.

Students began the demonstration outside RU before marching towards the state assembly. Police stopped them and scuffled with the students. According to the commanding officer Gandhinagar Udaiban, two students sustained minor injuries during the scuffle, and police detained 18 students. According to NSUI national spokesperson Ramesh Bhati, many students suffered serious injuries to their heads and bodies, despite peacefully protesting.

The previous week, on July 13, 2024, the media reported a similar incident during which police blocked students as they tried to march to RU to demand student elections. Police used batons to disperse the students, and detained four.

Scholars at Risk is concerned by the use of force by police to disperse students exercising their peaceful rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly—conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. State authorities have a responsibility to refrain from restricting the nonviolent exercise of such rights. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, the use of force to restrict or deter nonviolent student expression undermines academic freedom and democratic society more generally.

Sources:
https://www.millenniumpost.in/nation/nsui-activists-lathicharged-18-detained-in-jaipur-during-protest-for-student-body-elections-572319?infinitescroll=1
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/rajasthan-university-charges-fee-for-student-union-without-elections/articleshow/111821377.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/police-cane-students-protesting-at-rajasthan-university-demanding-union-polls/articleshow/111701650.cms