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Delhi police detains students attending Jantar Mantar protests; UP Police target volunteer Junaid

According to multiple reports, the Delhi police have been detaining students near Jamia Millia Islamia University, and Nizamuddin areas, raising questions of profiling based on religion.

South First Desk

Published Jul 25, 2026 | 1:49 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2026 | 1:49 PM

Protest at Jantar Mantar

Protest at Jantar Mantar (CJP/ X)

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Synopsis: The students can be heard saying, “We are Jamia students, we were going to the Jantar Mantar protest in an auto, and the police stopped us near Nizamuddin. We were made to get down from the auto and the police also shouted at the auto driver. When we asked for the reason for detaining us, they had no answer, they kept saying it is preventive detention, they told us to ask the SHO. They took us to the police station, and asked us fill our details.”

Amid the ongoing protests at the Jantar Mantar, and the negotiations between the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Union government, the Delhi Police have been cracking down on the students attending the protest site.

According to multiple reports, the Delhi police have been detaining students near Jamia Millia Islamia University, and Nizamuddin areas, raising questions of profiling based on religion.

Journalist Srishti took to X, on Saturday, 24 July, to share that Delhi police had detained three students from Jamia.

She wrote, sharing the account of the students, “These 3 students from Jamia escaped Delhi police’s preventive detention at Nizamuddin a few minutes back. Listen to how they were forcefully taken by police while they were on their way to the protest. Students are afraid and that is why they asked us to blur this video.”

The students can be heard saying, “We are Jamia students, we were going to the Jantar Mantar protest in an auto, and the police stopped us near Nizamuddin. We were made to get down from the auto and the police also shouted at the auto driver.”

“When we asked for the reason for detaining us, they had no answer, they kept saying it is preventive detention, they told us to ask the SHO. They took us to the police station, and asked us fill our details.”

According to another report by The Quint, on 22 July, 20 students including two minors were picked up from Nizamuddin gol chakkar as they were on their way to join the protest at Jantar Mantar. After four hours of detention, they were all released from badarpur police station.

Also Read: India’s students’ revolt has exposed BJP’s biggest political blind spot

Five muslim students detained

In an other reported incident, five Muslim students returning to the Jamia area from the protest site were detained by the police near Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Fact checker and Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared the video on the incident on X, and wrote: “Five Muslim Students returning to Jamia area from Jantar Mantar were detained by the police near Jamia Millia Islamia and taken to the police station. Social activist Zeba Khan and the reporter Afzal Alam chased the police vehicle and freed all the Students. Hello Delhi Police, Why were they detained, is it a crime to participate in Jantar Mantar protest? Why are young Students from the Jamia area being treated like criminals just for participating in the protest?”

In the video, the activist Zeba Khan can be heard questioning the police, on what basis did they detain them. The police answer that they have took them to question.

The students further claimed that, the police detained them they told that they were coming from the protest site.

Journalist Afzal Alam further said that, “Even when I repeatedly said that I am a journalist and was showing my press card, the police were still being rude and threatening to shut off the camera.”

Also Read: SFI’s ‘Raat Jago Desh Jago’ at Jantar Mantar echoes across India even as food supplies blocked

Volunteer Junaid targeted by UP police

Meanwhile the Uttar Pradesh police have been allegedly targeting volunteer Mohd Junaid who had been providing food and water to the protesters at the Jantar Mantar.

According to a TNIE report, he told reporters at Jantar Mantar on Friday that Uttar Pradesh Police detained members of his family during a raid at his home in Ghaziabad and seized their bank passbooks and PAN cards.

According to his family, police from Masoori police station in Ghaziabad searched their house in Nahal village on Thursday evening. They alleged that Junaid’s father, Mustafa, was taken away by the police, while bank passbooks and PAN cards belonging to family members were also seized.

Junaid’s sister told the media that police asked her father to contact Junaid and tell him to return home. Junaid further alleged that police also harassed his relatives in neighbouring Meerut district.

The CJP in a statement said, “Instead of going after criminals, UP Police is wasting its time going after our volunteer Mohd Junaid who has been serving food and water to people. Now they’re harassing him and his family in UP. Our team is in touch with him and we will never let them victimize him or his family. It is no longer shocking how this govt responds to dissent, but we will not be intimidated by these cowards. Every illegal action of the Police will be challenged in courts.”

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das also condemning the police action wrote on X: “We condemn the illegal police crackdown against Junaid bhai by the UP Police. We’ve been in regular touch with him and providing all necessary help from day 1. We urge the UP Police to stop this illegal, arbitrary, inhumane crackdown against Junaid’s family and release them IMMEDIATELY.”

(Edited by Sumavarsha)

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