Delhi Police on Thursday, 29 October 2026 registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown persons in connection with vandalism and damage to property at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), officials said. The case, lodged at Jamia Nagar Police Station on a complaint filed by the university administration, marks the second FIR arising from the ongoing student agitation at the campus in recent days.

Background to the Vandalism

The FIR follows a series of violent incidents on Tuesday night that the university described as deeply alarming. According to a statement issued by JMI, groups of protesting students and local residents allegedly vandalised university gates and walls, brought down Gate No. 4C, pelted stones, and damaged the CCTV control room and cameras, severing their connections. A group of masked protesters reportedly reached the university's boys' hostel in an attempt to mobilise additional participants.

'They discovered that groups of protesting students and local residents had vandalised University gates and walls, brought down Gate No. 4C, pelted stones, and damaged the CCTV control room and cameras, while also severing their connections. It is reported that a group of masked protesters even reached the University's boys' hostel in an attempt to mobilise more individuals to join them,' the university said in its statement.

The First FIR: MPs Named

The earlier FIR, also registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station, was filed against Congress Members of Parliament Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood, as well as Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Mohibbullah Nadvi, following a complaint by JMI Registrar Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi. Rizvi alleged that the two Congress MPs entered the campus without authorisation on separate occasions during the ongoing agitation.

The Student Protests: What Triggered Them

Students at Jamia Millia Islamia have been staging a hunger strike since 12 October, demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) and the removal of the university's Chief Proctor, whom protesters accuse of orchestrating a crackdown on demonstrators. The agitation has now stretched for over two weeks, with dialogue between the university administration and the student committee having been attempted at least seven times, according to JMI.

Notably, the university pointed out that the vandalism commenced shortly after members of the protesting student committee had concluded one such round of discussions with JMI faculty. 'Most concerning is the fact that the vandalism began shortly after members of the protesting student committee had been in discussions with JMI faculty (this marked the seventh such attempt at dialogue initiated by the university administration),' the university said.

University's Response

The university said it was 'deeply distressed and outraged' by the developments and noted that viral social media videos posted by the protesters themselves showed the extent of damage to JMI property. The proctorial team and faculty members arrived at the scene immediately upon receiving reports of the attacks. The varsity administration stated it had been making repeated efforts at peaceful resolution, and characterised the vandalism as a setback to that process.

What Happens Next

With two FIRs now on record, Delhi Police are expected to widen their investigation. The identity of the masked protesters involved in the hostel incident remains unverified. The university administration has not announced any suspension of academic activities, and the hunger strike by students continues. The situation at Jamia Millia Islamia will likely be closely watched by student groups and political parties across the capital in the coming days.