Archive · 27 Jun 2025
JNU Student Arrested: A Mistake During India's Emergency
During the Emergency, a time when the Indian government took control, a student named Prabir Purkayastha was arrested by mistake at JNU.
This happened because students had stopped Maneka Gandhi, the Prime Minister's daughter-in-law, from going to class.
Maneka got angry, and soon after, the police came looking for another student, but they arrested Prabir instead.
He was sent to jail, which shows how the government was cracking down on anyone who disagreed with them.
JNU student Prabir Purkayastha was wrongly arrested during the Emergency, mistaken for student leader D P Tripathi.
The incident was triggered by a protest where students, including Purkayastha, had stopped Maneka Gandhi from attending class.
Maneka Gandhi reportedly reacted angrily to the students' protest, leading to the police action.
Purkayastha was detained under MISA and spent time in Tihar and Agra jails.
The event highlights the targeting of JNU and student activism during the Emergency.
- Who
- Prabir Purkayastha, D P Tripathi, Maneka Gandhi, police led by DIG P S Bhinder, and the Indira Gandhi government.
- What
- The wrongful arrest of Prabir Purkayastha and the crackdown on JNU students during the Emergency.
- When
- September 25, 1975, during the Emergency.
- Where
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi, India.
- Why
- As a result of a clash with Maneka Gandhi, to suppress dissent and student activism during the Emergency.
Government Action
Student Activism
Justification
Government Action
The government aimed to suppress dissent.
Student Activism
The government said action was necessary to maintain order.
- Incident Date
- September 25, 1975
- Location
- JNU, Delhi
- Key Figure Detained
- Prabir Purkayastha
- Detention Act
- MISA
- Sanjay Gandhi's Role
- Allegedly asked for action
