JNU Protest: Police resorts to lathicharge during demonstration over fee hike

Police took severe measures on students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar on Monday, while they were moving forward towards Rashtrapati Bhawan to protest against a substantial fee hike imposed by the institution’s administration.

The lathicharge was initiated when the protesters tried to cross the Bhikaji Cama Place Metro station, which was closed off by the police. Television visuals put on view the police pushing back the students trying to cross over barricades.

Students initiated the march from the university campus to the Rashtrapati Bhawan after a month long demonstration went to waste, with the administrating body refusing to meet their demand. They claim that the action goes against the very character of the university.

A partial rollback of the fee hike was turned down by the students, who called it a mere eyewash.

Also Read: Sonia Gandhi turns 73: Rare pictures and lesser known facts about the Congress President

Earlier, the JNU student union had emailed their demands to President Ram Nath Kovind, calling for an immidiate reversion of the proposed fee hike, resignation of the Vice Chancellor and withdrawal of all police cases against protesting students.

Earlier this morning, police had rigidified security around JNU, blocking traffic on nearby roads and urging to protesters to not resort to violence. Entry and exit point of the Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg and Central Secretariat Metro stations were also shut over apprehensions that the students may use the intra city rail system to reach Rashtrapati Bhawan.