On September 19, 2025, Delhi police forcibly detained members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) at Jamia Millia Islamia during a peaceful demonstration.

AISA members organized a march to mark the 17th anniversary of the Batla House “encounter,” a 2008 raid by the Delhi Police Special Cell that resulted in the deaths of two Jamia Millia students. The protesters called for a judicial inquiry into the case. Beginning at the university’s central canteen, students marched to Gate No. 7, a campus entrance typically kept closed. Upon arrival, they were met by police waiting at the opened gate, who seized protesters and physically removed them from campus.

Characterizing the incident as a “coordinated assault” facilitated by the university administration, students alleged the police used disproportionate force against an otherwise peaceful protest. Videos circulated on social media show students being dragged, manhandled, and detained by Delhi police.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during an on-campus protest and the detention of students for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
https://maktoobmedia.com/india/jamia-millia-islamia-students-detained-manhandled-during-march-on-17-years-of-batla-house-encounter/
https://foej.in/it-was-all-planned-in-advance-jmi-students-detained-and-manhandled-during-insaf-mashaal-juloos-marking-17th-anniversary-of-batla-house-encounter/
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