10 people with criminal background arrested for Jamia violence, none students

Students from Jamia Millia Islamia had claimed they were peacefully holding the protest, and that it was “hijacked” by local residents of the area.

Policemen stand guard near Jamia Millia Islamia following the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act, in New Delhi on 15 December | PTI

New Delhi: Ten people with criminal background have been arrested for allegedly being involved in the violence near Jamia Millia Islamia University here, police said on Tuesday.

The accused were arrested on Monday night, they said.

According to a senior police officer said, no student has been arrested.

The university had turned into a battlefield on Sunday as police entered the campus and also used force, following protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which led to violence and arson in which four DTC buses, 100 private vehicles and 10 police bikes were damaged.

Jamia students had claimed they were peacefully holding the protest, and that it was “hijacked” by local residents of the area.

At a press conference on Monday, Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa Randhawa corroborated the claim. “The protest was peaceful till 3:30 pm and Delhi Police was cooperating with the protestors. It was only after some anti-social elements entered the protest and set vehicles afire, that things turned ugly,” he said.

“There was no firing, there have been no casualties in Jamia violence. The crime branch will investigate Jamia violence. Thorough investigation will be done and accountability will be fixed,” he had said at the press conference.