Mumbai police detained students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for holding an event. The event marked the death anniversary of G.N. Saibaba on campus. Police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 10 students. The Fraternity Movement condemned the detentions, calling them an attack on democratic expression in academic spaces.
Details of Student Detention and Charges
Police disrupted the event, seizing students’ laptops and phones. Officials filed charges against the detained students. These charges include ‘causing prejudice to the nation’ and ‘promoting enmity between groups’. The Fraternity Movement stated these accusations are “completely baseless and arbitrary.” The group also asserted that police actions violate basic constitutional rights, aiming to silence student dissent.
Police Justification and Event Context
Police officials stated the students did not obtain necessary permission from authorities to hold the event. They also reported that students raised slogans. These slogans supported former JNU students Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid. Both Imam and Khalid are currently incarcerated in connection with a Delhi riots case.
Fraternity Movement Condemns Police Action
The Fraternity Movement issued an official statement. It stated, “We unequivocally condemn this authoritarian assault on thought, expression, and solidarity by the state machinery.” The organization expressed “unwavering solidarity” with the detained students. It demanded the immediate withdrawal of all charges, which it termed “fabricated.” The Fraternity Movement described the incident as an attempt to create an atmosphere of fear on campuses, treating dissent as a crime.
Background on G.N. Saibaba
G.N. Saibaba was a former professor at the University of Delhi (DU). He faced arrest in a case concerning alleged Maoist links. The Bombay High Court acquitted him in 2024. He passed away on October 12 last year. The TISS event aimed to commemorate his death anniversary.
Pattern of Suppressing Campus Dissent
The incident at TISS follows a wider trend of actions against student activities across Indian universities. Authorities recently targeted students at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) Hyderabad. These students protested Israel’s actions and expressed solidarity with Palestinian victims. Reports indicated alleged attacks by ABVP activists during their protest.
Earlier, in April, IISER Pune cancelled a ‘Mukti Parv’ event. This event was planned to mark Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. The cancellation occurred after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) claimed speakers invited for the event had alleged Maoist links, labeling them as part of a ‘Tukde Tukde gang’.
Another incident involved students at South Asian University. They protested an alleged campus assault and demanded action from authorities. These events highlight growing concerns over restrictions on free expression and assembly within academic institutions.