Five Delhi University students have been arrested for allegedly torching a Delhi police van on the North Campus.
According to the police, the incident happened late Wednesday night in Delhi University’s North Campus after it tried to take a student to hospital after his condition deteriorated due to prolonged hunger strike.
“Some students were sitting on a hungerstrike against the non-availability of accommodation for the pass out students in the university. When the condition of one Praveen Kumar, 22, who was fasting since the last 10 days near the Arts Faculty deteriorated, we tried to take him to the hospital in a police van,” said a police official.
When the van moved towards the hospital, a student jumped in front of the van and was injured. We took both the students to hospital, where they are recuperating, he said.
Infuriated by this, the angry students torched the police gypsy of Station House Officer (SHO) of Maurice Nagar police station and raised slogans against police. We had to resort to use of mild force to reign in the protestors, police said.
“We have arrested five students after a case under various sections including that of damaging government property was registered,” the official added.
Later in the day, Delhi University released a statement condemning the event.
“The university also strongly deplores the minuscule segment of the teaching community in misguiding innocent students, jeopardising their career and endangering their personal safety,” the statement said.