Congress MP Imran Masood, 9 Others Detained Near Jamia Amid Student Protest

Congress MP Imran Masood Detained Near Jamia

Congress MP Imran Masood was among 10 people detained by Delhi Police near Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi on Friday, October 23, amid ongoing student protests demanding the restoration of the university’s students’ union.

According to reports, Masood had arrived to express support for the protesting students. The demonstrations have drawn political attention as students continue to demand an official notification announcing the schedule for student union elections.

Why Are Jamia Students Protesting?

The agitation began on October 12, with students demanding the restoration of an elected student body and the announcement of an election schedule.

The last students’ union elections at Jamia Millia Islamia were held in 2005. The union was dissolved in 2006 and has not been restored since then.

Students have maintained that their main demand is for the university administration to announce a clear timeline for elections and allow students to elect their representatives.

Tensions Escalated During Earlier Demonstrations

The protest intensified on October 17, when university authorities attempted to remove demonstrators from the Ghalib Lawn area near Gate No. 7, according to reports.

The continuing agitation has prompted tighter security around the campus. Students have reportedly been subjected to checks before being allowed to enter departments and academic centres.

The university administration has also raised concerns over slogans written on campus walls, including “VC Go Back”, and said it was attempting to identify those responsible. Officials also reported that some CCTV cameras had been tampered with or damaged in areas where slogans appeared.

University Forms Committee to Address Students’ Demands

Amid the continuing protests, Jamia Millia Islamia has constituted a committee to engage with students, examine their demands and work towards restoring normalcy on campus.

The committee is expected to prepare a new constitution for the students’ union. However, protesters have continued to insist that the university should issue an official notification outlining the election schedule.

The formation of the committee represents an administrative response to the agitation, although the students’ central demand for elections remains a key point of contention.

Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi Also Detained

The protest also drew Samajwadi Party MP Maulana Mohibbullah Nadwi, who was reportedly detained while attempting to meet the students.

Nadwi alleged that police personnel pushed and manhandled him during the incident. He said that, as a former Jamia student, he considered it his responsibility to support the protesters. Reports said he was subsequently released.

The allegations of police manhandling have been attributed to Nadwi and should be distinguished from independently established findings.

Imran Masood Backs Students’ Demand

Masood questioned why the elected students’ union had not been restored and expressed support for the students’ concerns.

His intervention brought another political representative into the dispute, which has increasingly moved beyond the university campus as opposition leaders have sought to support the agitation.

The central issue remains whether the university will announce a formal election schedule and establish a process for restoring an elected student body.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is likely to remain on the university administration’s response to the students’ demands and whether the committee’s work leads to a clear timetable for elections.

Students are seeking a formal commitment to the restoration of the union, while the administration has begun a process to review the union’s proposed structure and related issues.

The situation highlights the continuing disagreement between the protesting students and the university authorities over student representation and the timeline for restoring the union.

Key Takeaways

• Congress MP Imran Masood and nine others were detained near Jamia Millia Islamia on October 23, 2026.

• The protest centres on demands to restore the university’s students’ union and announce an election schedule.

• The last students’ union elections were held in 2005, and the union was dissolved in 2006.

• The agitation began on October 12 and intensified following a confrontation on October 17.

• The university has formed a committee to examine student demands and prepare a new union constitution.

• Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadwi also reportedly faced detention and alleged that police manhandled him.

• The next steps will depend on the university’s response and whether an election schedule is announced.

Bottom Line

The detention of Congress MP Imran Masood and nine others has brought renewed attention to the student agitation at Jamia Millia Islamia. Students are demanding the restoration of their elected union and a formal election schedule, while the university has formed a committee to review their concerns. The key question is whether the ongoing discussions will lead to a concrete timeline for restoring student representation.