Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (SBSC) at Delhi University erupted in protests on November 18 as students, led by activists from the All India Students’ Association (AISA), demanded the arrest of Principal Arun Kumar Attree. The principal assaulted and hurled casteist slurs at Sumit, a Dalit student of the college.
AISA activists, along with Sumit and students from SBSC, staged a gherao of the principal's office, effectively shutting down the college. They were joined by Dhananjay, the President of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), who lent his support to the demand for justice. Amid the protests, Principal Attree fled the college premises and announced the implementation of online classes from the following day.
Instead of hearing the grievances of the protesting students, the administration called in police, who forcibly removed students from the college campus. Despite these measures, the protests persisted. Students regrouped at the Malviya Nagar police station, demanding the immediate filing of an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Attree.
Sumit, the affected student said at the protest, "I was abused and beaten up by the Principal, his lackey teachers are threatening me every day. But this solidarity makes the struggle stronger."
JNUSU President Dhananjay condemned the systemic casteist practices within educational institutions. “The likes of Attree are spread throughout our universities. We will not rest until he is sent to jail, sending a clear message to others like him,” he declared.
AISA DU President Shantanu criticised the police for delaying the filing of charges against the principal. “The police claim to be conducting a preliminary inquiry, but we know this is an attempt to protect goons like Attree. We will not stop until justice is served,” he said.
The protests at SBSC and Malviya Nagar police station have drawn widespread attention, highlighting the prevalence of caste-based discrimination within India’s higher education system. Students have pledged to continue their agitation until legal action is taken against Principal Arun Kumar Attree.
The incident has sparked outrage across the university, with student leaders and activists urging authorities to take swift and decisive action to ensure justice and send a strong message against casteist violence.
