SRINAGAR: A mess worker at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi has been detained for allegedly assaulting a Kashmiri woman student on campus, police said on Monday, according to reports appearing in media.
The alleged incident occurred around 9:30 pm on April 27, when a 24-year-old second-year MA student was reportedly assaulted by a 22-year-old mess worker, identified as Abid. According to police, the accused was detained the same night. Although the student has not yet filed a formal complaint, she is expected to do so shortly, after which an FIR will be registered. Police added that the altercation appeared to stem from a personal matter.
The assault reportedly took place near Gate 8 of the campus, according to a student group. The university administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) at Jamia condemned the assault, calling it a grave security lapse. The group alleged that the incident was part of a larger pattern of harassment faced by Kashmiri students following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, although police have maintained it was an isolated dispute.
AISA also criticised campus security, claiming staff members stood by during the assault and later allowed the accused to re-enter the campus without proper checks. “Despite being a heavily militarised space, the university has repeatedly failed in its responsibility to ensure safety,” the organisation said, demanding a transparent investigation, strict action against the accused, and accountability from the security personnel involved.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has released emergency helpline numbers and formed a support team to assist students and coordinate with authorities.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. The attack was among the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.
