Jamia Uni: Goons of HoD accused of sexual harassment attack protesting students

The students of Jamia Millia Islamia University, on Thursday, February 7, were attacked, sexually assaulted and molested by the goons of the HoD against whom they were protesting for sexually harassing several students. They have been on a peaceful protest since January 31.

The students of Applied Art from the Faculty of Fine Arts are alleging that Hafeez Ahmed, Head of Department (HoD), had sexually and mentally harassed several students. They have alleged that the students have been facing irregularities in marks distribution based on favouritism. He has also been accused of referring to Kashmiri students as ‘terrorists’.

One of the students Deepika Bhat was injured and has been hospitalised after the attack. Geetanjali Jha and Akansha Kaushik, both students of Jamia Millia Islamia, were sexually molested by the goons of Hafeez Ahmed. Some of the goons were JMI students itself.

While talking to NH, Chandan Kumar, a student of JMI and a member of AISA, “Students approached the Jamia administration and the police. After the administration met the students, they assured them that they would identify the students who attacked the protesters and suspend them. The students complained to the police, but the SHO refused to file an FIR.

Students had complained to the Dean of Students' Welfare (DSW) and concerned officials, including the ICC and the anti-discrimination cell of JMI, six months ago but till day the administration has not initiated any action against Ahmed. The protesting students were demanding the immediate suspension of the HoD, a safe campus and open marking system like other departments.

According to a report in Newslaundry, a student who requested anonymity, alleged that the HoD had sent her text messages which made her uncomfortable, “Sometime back, I wasn’t coming to college because I was ill. His texts would address me as ‘dear’, ‘appi’ and ‘queen’ to ask me how I was. I have saved screenshots of those messages, thinking that I would confront him someday. Since he was in charge of the entire department, I could neither block him nor could I confront him.”

Maheen Haidri, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) student from 2014-17, said, “For me, the four years I spent there were devastating only because of him. I was mentally tortured and not given the marks I deserved. Targeted and humiliated, he made my life there hell. He would constantly morally police us and tell us to sit in a certain manner in class, would call parents and send letters at home for the slightest of things. I never got good marks despite always doing well on tests.”