NEW DELHI: At least 28 students from university" styleobj="[object Object]" class="" commonstate="[object Object]" frmappuse="1">Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), including Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Nitesh Kumar, were arrested on Saturday evening after a protest off campus became confrontational, Delhi Police said.According to police, around 70-80 students, including women, gathered near the west gate of the university around 6 p.m. Barricades were erected to restrict their movement towards Nelson Mandela Marg.“Despite repeated requests, the students forcibly penetrated and broke through the barricades, manhandled police personnel, used abusive language and pushed on Nelson Mandela Marg, leading to a temporary traffic stop,” the police said in a statement quoted by ANI.To prevent escalation, police arrested 28 students – 19 men and 9 women – including JNUSU president Nitesh Kumar, vice president Manisha and general secretary Muntia Fatima.During the incident, six police officers – four men and two women – sustained injuries and were sent for medical examination. “Appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with the law,” the statement added.However, students claimed that police used unnecessary force to break up what they called a peaceful demonstration. Several JNU student groups criticized the detentions, saying authorities were trying to suppress dissent on campus.JNU is gearing up for the students’ union elections, likely to be held in November.
