Delhi Police Takes JNU Students Into Custody During Protest March Towards Education Ministry

New Delhi: Several members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) were taken into custody on Thursday afternoon after attempting to hold a protest march towards the Ministry of Education, PTI reported.

Among those arrested were JNUSU president Aditi Mishra and former president Nitish Kumar, along with several other student protesters, the sources said. However, there was no immediate official confirmation from the Delhi Police regarding the detentions.

The protesting students had assembled at Sabarmati T-Point on the JNU campus and began moving in groups carrying placards and banners. As they attempted to take the rally beyond the campus premises, they were stopped by heavy security deployment at the university’s main gate, which had been strongly barricaded.

According to the organisers, the march was intended to highlight what they described as “institutional neglect” in higher education institutions.

Security has been tightened both inside and outside the campus following tensions earlier this week. On Monday, a JNUSU protest turned violent, with incidents of stone-pelting and physical altercations reported between members of the JNUSU and the ABVP. Delhi Police subsequently registered an FIR against JNUSU office-bearers in connection with the incident.

The student union has been protesting against caste discrimination on campus and demanding stricter implementation of UGC regulations. Among their key demands are the enactment of the proposed “Rohith Vemula Act” — aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions — increased public funding for universities, and the resignation of the JNU Vice-Chancellor.

Visuals shared on social media showed the university gate heavily barricaded, with significant security deployment as protesters attempted to march out of the campus.