Protests by students affiliated to the All India Students’ Association (AISA) against Delhi University’s decision to hold exams on Eid-ul-Azha turned tense on Wednesday, with students alleging that security personnel manhandled protesters outside the university’s examination hall.According to AISA-DU, the students had gathered to demand that the examinations scheduled on gazetted holidays be postponed. The student body claimed that hundreds of security personnel were stationed outside the premises of the examination branch and alleged that the protesters were “dragged, manhandled and beaten” during the demonstration.However, DU Proctor Manoj Kumar Singh denied allegations of any altercation between students and security personnel. He said the students were stopped as they tried to enter the building.“They were trying to enter the building, so they were just asked to leave. The university’s decision is the same; the exams on Thursday (May 28) will go ahead as scheduled,” Singh said.The protest comes a day after the university informed the Delhi High Court that Muslim students or any other students facing difficulties can email the dean of the Faculty of Law and appear for the exam after July 4 instead of May 28.However, AISA said the relief was provided only to students of the Faculty of Law, while thousands of students from other departments are still expected to appear for the exams on Eid-ul-Azha.The controversy started earlier this week when the university issued an office memorandum stating that all offices, faculties, departments, colleges and institutes of the university will remain closed on May 28 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. However, the notice also clarified that the exams will continue as per the schedule.
