ABVP members clash with police during protest outside MCD headquarters over building collapse

The Delhi police on Sunday detained at least 15 members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after they allegedly broke through the gates of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) headquarters while staging a dharna on Sunday evening. The protesters sought the resignation of the MCD Commissioner in connection with the collapse of a five-storey building housing a boys’ hostel in Satya Niketan, in which four persons were killed.

According to a police statement, around 150–200 ABVP members gathered near the Civic Centre to protest against the building collapse.

“The protesters entered the Civic Centre through Gate No. 5 and sat outside the main building, raising slogans and protesting against the functioning of the MCD. Subsequently, some protesters attempted to forcibly enter the main Civic Centre building, resulting in jostling with police personnel. Around 15 people were detained and taken to Kamla Market police station, where action under the Delhi Police Act is being initiated. The remaining gathering was dispersed by the police. The situation is presently under control.”

Speaking on the incident, ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said, “The Satya Niketan incident is deeply tragic and alarming. There must be an impartial probe into this collapse, strict action against those responsible, and immediate justice for the affected students. Accountability must be fixed for officials who failed to ensure student safety, and the MCD Commissioner should resign immediately.”

Stepping up demands

The protests come ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election later this month, with organisations stepping up demands for accountability in student accommodations across the Capital.

National Students’ Union of India president Vinod Jakhar said, “It is extremely painful to see students suffering like this. Several students were trapped under the debris, and every minute was critical. The police arrived nearly an hour after the incident and the NDRF around two hours later. This raises a very serious question: if emergency agencies take hours to respond when students’ lives are at risk, who will take responsibility?”

The Delhi State Committee of the Students’ Federation of India also staged a protest at the Delhi Secretariat, demanding a comprehensive safety audit of PGs and student accommodations and strict action against illegal and unsafe constructions.

“The absence of effective regulation and accountability has allowed unsafe buildings and exploitative PG and building mafias to proliferate across student residential areas.”