Fellowship: Student protest escalates despite HRD's assurance

A protest by students here against the UGC's move to scrap non-NET fellowship escalated today and led to police detaining scores of them as they refused to budge from outside the commission's office even after the HRD Ministry's assurance.
Police officials claimed that they resorted to mild force only when the protesters allegedly damaged around five barricades while trying to enter the premises of UGC building.
In an unprovoked attack, some of the protesters allegedly manhandled police personnel, including women officials, deployed at the spot, an official said.
"We are examining the situation and legal action will follow accordingly," said DCP (Central) Parmaditya.

The students claimed that five of them were injured during the police crackdown and had to be rushed to the hospital.
"Forty of our fellows have been detained and taken to Kamla Market police station. Five of them were severely injured in the attack and are in hospital," said Sunny Kumar, one of the protesters.
Even after the HRD ministry's clarification that the non-NET fellowship will not be scrapped, the students have been continuing with their agitation demanding that the amount for the grant be increased and an official notification be issued.