Ramjas violence: Tensions continue to simmer; three policemen suspended

New Delhi: Tensions continued to simmer across Delhi University's North Campus on Thursday with students' groups holding protests against police "high-handedness" during the violent clashes in Ramjas College.

Delhi Police on Thursday suspended three policemen on charges of assaulting some students and journalists when two student groups clashed at the Ramjas College here a day earlier.

The suspension came after Special Commissioner of Police SBK Singh addressed hundreds of students protesting outside the police headquarters here and promised action against his guilty colleagues.

The officer regretted the attack on journalists and students and promised a "fair probe" by the Crime Branch to "punish the guilty".

The case relating to yesterday's violence was handed over to the Crime Branch as criticism against Delhi Police grew louder for allegedly not containing the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during the clash with supporters of Leftist All India Students Association (AISA) yesterday which left many injured.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government has sought a report from Delhi University on the violence. His ministerial colleague Kiren Rijiju said freedom of expression in the country doesn't give right to make college campuses hub of anti-national activities.

"I have asked for a report from the University on the issue," Javadekar told reporters at a press conference here.

However, earlier in the day, Javadekar had ruled out government intervention saying the University is an autonomous institution and police will take required action.

"How can we intervene? They are an autonomous university. Police will investigate and take required action," he had said.

Ramjas College on Wednesday witnessed large-scale violence between members of AISA and ABVP supporters. The genesis of the clash was an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar on 'Culture of Protests' which was withdrawn by the college authorities following opposition by the ABVP.

The ABVP today raised nationalism slogans and vowed that it would not allow "anti-nationals" into the varsity, while the NSUI held a peace march and condemned the violence in Ramjas College.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) held a peace march from Arts Faculty to Maurice Nagar Police Station in an attempt to restore peace and safety in the campus.

(With agencies inputs)