During ongoing examinations, pressure on students at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has intensified as the Mumbai Police continue probing ten students booked last month for allegedly commemorating the 12 October death anniversary of former Delhi University professor G. N. Saibaba.
Last month, Mumbai Police registered an FIR against the ten students for allegedly marking Saibaba’s death anniversary and for purportedly raising slogans in support of former JNU students Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, both currently in jail in connection with the Delhi riots case.
The FIR was filed following a complaint submitted by the TISS administration. A police officer said the students were booked and served notices. “No permission was taken from the Mumbai Police for the event,” the officer added.
A student who requested anonymity denied the allegations. “It was a silent gathering of around 15 to 20 people to offer condolences on G. N. Saibaba’s death anniversary. No anti-national slogans were raised by anyone,” the student said.
According to the same student, the gathering was disrupted when a few individuals, allegedly from a right-wing group, arrived and vandalised the setup, tore Saibaba’s photograph, and threw away the candles while accusing students of “sheltering Naxals on campus”.
Following the complaint, police visited the campus for an investigation and questioned four to five students named in the FIR. Students say the combination of ongoing exams and the police inquiry has caused significant distress. “The laptops and mobile phones were seized, making it extremely difficult to study. Parents are supportive, but the seizure of devices has put an extra financial burden on them. Students have to rely on friends’ devices to study,” one student said.
Students also claim that the campus atmosphere has changed. “We feel like we are constantly being watched. Hostel entry and exit rules have been tightened, and new security measures have been implemented. It is very hard to focus on exams under these conditions,” another student added. The case has now been transferred to the Crime Branch, which is carrying out further investigation.
