Attempt to screen BBC docu: 70 Jamia Milia students detained
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The Indian Express photo.
New Delhi: After student groups in Jamia Millia Islamia planned to screen the controversial BBC documentary accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Gujarat riots in 2002, at least 70 students were detained on Wednesday, PTI reported.
At first, it was four activists who got detained, and a large group of students arrived to protest.
The students' groups, led by SFI, planned to screen the documentary inside the college campus Wednesday evening after the varsity refused to grant permission for the screening and warned of disciplinary action against those who did.
Further, Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar on Wednesday called SFI "a small student group with no following" and accused it of disturbing the peace on the campus as the group announced the screening of a recent BBC documentary on 2002 Godhra riots on campus.
"We do not want any disturbance on the campus. We desire to keep the peace and harmony in the university where students are studying and giving exams," Akhtar told PTI.
However, the Delhi Police refused to share the reason behind the detentions and said that the security in the area had been reinforced in view of the Republic Day celebrations.
A similar incident related to the screening of the documentary happened at Jawaharlal Nehru University a day ago. The university authorities snapped power and shut down the internet inside the campus, and students also alleged that stones were hurled at them in the dark.