New Delhi: Students protesting the death of an IIT Delhi student have rejected the administration’s allegation that protesters used “unsavoury, humiliating and threatening” slogans outside faculty residences.
Responding to director Rangan Banerjee’s warning of disciplinary action, the students said their chants were peaceful appeals to professors to support their movement and had been limited to demands for institutional accountability, transparency and solidarity. They said audio-visual monitoring continued even as the demonstration remained peaceful, describing the level of police presence as excessive and inconsistent with the nature of the protest. The protesters also denied entering the faculty residential area, saying their march briefly paused outside the gate before continuing towards the main entrance. They alleged that the administration’s response had instead included disproportionate police presence and surveillance. At the same time, protesters alleged that they were subjected to disproportionate surveillance and police deployment.
The protest, which began on Aug 22, has continued despite the institute forming an inquiry committee. Students are demanding the resignation of the dean of students’ welfare, an independent probe into alleged institutional lapses, Rs 1-crore compensation for Kumar’s family and an assurance that no disciplinary action will be taken against protesters.
They said hospital and medical facilities were kept clear so that patient care, emergency access and medical movement were not disrupted.
In response to the director’s mail, students said the march was carefully conducted within the operational limits of the campus. They also maintained that the protest remained confined to the main transit roads and did not enter residential hostel premises, respecting students’ privacy and personal space.