NEW DELHI — A high-stakes protest organized by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) turned into a violent confrontation with the Delhi Police on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The clash erupted at the university’s North Gate as hundreds of students attempted to proceed with a “Long March” toward the Ministry of Education. According to law enforcement officials, the demonstration escalated into physical altercations that left approximately 25 police personnel injured, with some officers reporting being “bitten” by protestors during the scuffle.
The march, which began around 3:20 p.m., was called to demand the immediate implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) 2026 Equity Regulations, the enactment of the “Rohith Vemula Act,” and the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit. Police had reportedly informed the students beforehand that permission for the march outside the campus had been denied. When the crowd of 400 to 500 students reached the barricades, the situation rapidly deteriorated. Police alleged that protestors pelted sticks, shoes, and banners at security forces and resorted to physical assault. Among the injured were senior officers, including two Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and several Station House Officers (SHOs).
In the aftermath of the violence, the Delhi Police detained 51 protestors, including JNUSU President Aditi Mishra and former president Nitish Kumar. An FIR has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for obstructing and assaulting public servants on duty. However, the student union has vehemently countered the police narrative, alleging that the security forces used “brutal and excessive force” against unarmed students. JNUSU leaders claimed that many students, including women, sustained serious injuries and that a portrait of B.R. Ambedkar was intentionally damaged during the police action.
The JNU administration released a formal statement condemning the unrest and clarified the legal standing of the students’ demands. The university noted that the JNUSU’s call for the implementation of the UGC 2026 Regulations is currently a legal impossibility, as the Supreme Court of India issued a stay on these specific rules in late January. The administration emphasized that neither the Vice-Chancellor nor the Registrar has the authority to implement regulations that are presently being held in abeyance by the judiciary. Furthermore, the university suggested that the recent tensions are being fueled by individuals previously rusticated for acts of “vandalism and violence” on campus.
As the campus remains under heavy security deployment, the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has expressed deep concern over the “disproportionate” police response and demanded the immediate release of the detained students. The standoff highlights the deepening rift between the student body and the university administration, particularly following controversial remarks made by the Vice-Chancellor in a recent podcast. With both sides trading accusations of provocation and misconduct, the situation in the national capital’s premier university remains extremely volatile.
