Security doubled, Delhi Police & CRPF roped in: JNU preps for Jan 12 convocation amid campus tensions

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has tightened security arrangements for its convocation on January 12 amid tensions on campus after “inflammatory” slogans were allegedly raised at a student event earlier this week, The Indian Express has learnt.

Sources in the university administration told The Indian Express on Friday that additional security personnel — double the usual strength — will be deployed at the convocation venue this year. “Typically, we deploy around 10 to 12 security officers at the venue,” an official said. “This time, we will deploy close to 30 personnel to ensure no mischief takes place during the convocation. Delhi Police and CRPF personnel will also be present at the venue.”

On Monday evening, “highly objectionable, provocative, and inflammatory slogans” were allegedly raised during an event, linked to the sixth anniversary of the January 5, 2020, campus violence, organised by “students associated with” the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU).

A purported video appeared to show students raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The varsity had asked police to register an FIR and identified nine students by name, including all four JNUSU office-bearers, and said further identification could follow.

The university also wants to prevent a repeat of 2019 when protests had broken out over hostel fee hike during the convocation, leaving then Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal trapped inside the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) campus — the venue for the event — for around three hours.

Speaking about arrangements for the convocation this time, the official quoted above said the venue has only a single entry and exit point and access will be strictly regulated. “Only individuals identified and approved by the university will be allowed to enter. No one will be permitted without authorisation,” the official said.

If students attempt to protest outside the venue, particularly along Nelson Mandela Marg, an open public stretch, the situation will be handled by the Delhi Police, the official added. It is learnt that senior Delhi Police officers and JNU’s security officials held a coordination meeting on Friday to review arrangements ahead of the event.

Asked if more students had been identified in connection with the slogans raised at the earlier protest, the official said the university’s focus was currently on the convocation. “We are all busy with the convocation right now. That process will move forward after the 12th.”

On Thursday, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said a “lunatic fringe” could not define the university. Addressing a conference on campus, she said JNU had returned to normalcy within 24 hours and remained peaceful.

“Every institution has disruptive elements,” Pandit said, describing JNU as the “most nationalistic university” in the country. Emphasising the institution’s global reputation, she said events on campus resonated far beyond its gates.

In 2019, the administration under then Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar had said a large group of students broke open campus gates, crossed police barricades, and marched to the AICTE auditorium. Police eventually used water cannons to disperse them.

“It is unfortunate that instead of participating in a constructive dialogue… protesting students are persistently staging strikes, gheraos, and demonstrations… causing administrative shutdown and academic loss,” the varsity had said in a statement then.

Officials said steps being taken this year are aimed at ensuring that such disruptions are not repeated. “The idea is to ensure that the convocation, a milestone for graduating students, proceeds without interruption,” an official said.