Jamia suffered damages over Rs. 2cr due to police action
The violence that broke inside the Jamia Millia Islamia University of New Delhi in December cost the varsity over Rs. 2 crore, a report in Indian Express said on Wednesday. An estimate of the damage incurred by the varsity was submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). 25 CCTV cameras, worth Rs. 4.75 lakh, were destroyed, the university's administration claimed.
Protest against CAA took unsavory turn, cops entered campus
Jamia, one of the most celebrated universities of India, witnessed unprecedented scenes on December 15 when police barged into the campus and allegedly thrashed students. The cops took this route after a protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) ended with the torching of buses and vandalizing of public property. Dozens of students were detained and released after hours.
After violence, Jamia's V-C extended a healing touch
Post the horrendous turn of events, Jamia's Vice-Chancellor Najma Akhtar assured students she stood by them. "I will take this matter forward as long it's possible. You are never alone, don't get disheartened and don't believe in any rumor," she said a day after the violence. "I am hurt by the way my students were treated," she had said.
Library equipment, tables, lights, were damaged, said the university
Jamia specified that it suffered losses due to "Delhi Police action on December 15, 2019". Public property worth Rs. 2,66,16,390 was damaged on the fateful day, the institute underlined. Library equipment, doors, window panes, AC units, electrical systems, chairs, tables, lights, and mirrors were damaged, the institute added. Equipment worth Rs. 55 lakh was damaged too, the report submitted to MHRD said.
Toilet items worth Rs. 6 lakh destroyed
IE revealed 75 doors, 220 window panes, and 35 library tables worth Rs. 41.25 lakh, Rs. 22.5 lakh, and Rs. 14 lakh respectively were damaged. A total of 175 chairs, costing Rs. 7 lakh, "toilet items" worth Rs. 6 lakh, and tiles of Rs. 8 lakh were destroyed. 15 aluminum doors, whose cost was Rs. 4.5 lakh, was also damaged along with vegetation of Rs. 7.5 lakh.
Library was damaged, but thankfully books are safe: Librarian
"Most of the damage in the library is due to the breaking of glass panes. Some of the other things damaged are CCTV cameras and tube-lights, etc. But thankfully no books or manuscripts were touched," said librarian Tariq Ashraf.
CCTV footage showed cops allegedly thrashed students
Last week, a CCTV footage released by the Jamia Coordination Committee, a group of alumni and students, purportedly showed cops entering the library and beating up students. This claim was contested by others on social media who said cops were looking for rioters inside the campus. The fact that some of the students hid their faces with handkerchiefs sparked suspicion.
SIT visited campus, spent hours at various locations
Slammed after the video surfaced, Delhi Police said they are ascertaining its authenticity and hinted it could be edited. Earlier, cops had said they didn't enter the library. Yesterday, the Special Investigation Team, formed to investigate the violence, visited Jamia and spent three hours. "The SIT interacted with the faculty and examined a few students. Chief Proctor's help was also requested," said police.
In charge-sheet, police mentioned rioters took refuge inside campus
An 800-page charge-sheet has also been filed in connection to the December 15 violence. Cops said after setting buses on fire at Jamia Nagar and New Friends Colony, rioters entered the university thinking police officers would not follow them. Police said statements of 95 eyewitnesses, including 47 cops, were recorded. Of the 17 people named, none are students of Jamia.
