More than 10 female students of Jamia Millia University, who participated in an anti-CAA march towards Parliament, have been admitted to the Jamia Health Centre for injuries in their private parts.
Speaking to India Today TV, the resident doctors at the health centre said that some of the injuries were so severe that the students had to be shifted to Al-Shifa hospital.
“More than 10 female students have been hit on their private parts. We have found blunt injuries and some have been hit in a way that we had to shift them to Al Shifa because injuries are serious in nature,”the doctors said.
“Some students have also suffered internal injuries as they have been hit on chest with lathis,” they said.
A student, who was being treated at the health centre told India Today TV that a female cop removed her burqa and hit her in private parts with a lathi. “I have been hit on my private parts by cops with boots. One of the female cops took off my Burkha and hit me on my private parts with a lathi,” she said.
India Today TV also spoke to Al-Shifa hospital. The hospital authorities have informed that at least nine people – eight Jamia students and a local resident – have been admitted at Al-Shifa after the protest. “One of the students have suffered severe injuries, we have shifted him to the ICU,” they said.
As per the ground reports, the situation between students and the cops is at a standstill as the security forces are not letting protesters move forward, and the people are not going backing off.
The situation in Jamia became tense after scores of Jamia Millia students and residents of Jamia Nagar got into a scuffle with police after they were stopped from carrying an anti-CAA march towards Parliament.
The situation between students and the cops is at a standstill as the security forces are not letting protesters move forward, and the people are not going backing off (Reuters image)
The protest call was given by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), an organisation of Jamia students and alumni.
Despite repeated appeals from the police and the varsity authorities, the protesters refused to end their agitation. Police said the protesters did not have permission to march towards Parliament.
The protesters raised slogans like “Kagaz Nahi Dikhayenge’ (We will not show documents) and “Jab Nahi Dare Hum Goron Se Toh Kyun Dare Hum Auron Se” (When we did not fear the British, why should we fear others).
Men formed a human chain on either sides of roads as women walked ahead, waving the tricolour and raising slogans of “Halla Bol”.
A scuffle ensued as policemen tried to stop the protesters. Many of them jumped over barricades to continue their march towards Parliament.
Jamia Millia Islamia proctor Waseem Ahmed Khan appealed to the students to disperse and not meddle with the police. “The message has been sent. I request students in the crowd to go back to the university. Respect the law and peacefully go back,” he urged the students.
The CAA allows easier citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis and Jains who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before 2015 to escape religious persecution there.
Those opposing the CAA contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. They also allege that the CAA along with the NRC is intended to target the Muslim community in the country.
However, the central government has dismissed the allegations, maintaining that the law is intended to give citizenship to the persecuted minorities from the three neighbouring countries and not to take away anyone’s citizenship.
(With inputs from PTI)
