A protest march organized by the students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University on Sunday evening against the CAA evolved into a major conflict, that included vandalism and police brutality.

Over a hundred students were detained by the police following the violence, and they were released at 3.30 am. Exams were postponed and holidays until January 6 were declared. As soon as the announcements were made, a number of students reportedly started packing their bags and were seen walking out of the campus fearing further savagery. "I am from Kishanganj in Bihar and we had booked our tickets for December 20 since the exams were ending on December 18. But this thing happened and I am scared. I will be staying at my friend's place for the remaining days and will head home on the day my tickets are reserved," one of the students told a news agency.

"The atmosphere here is very disturbed, the library has been destroyed and a curfew was imposed on the campus last night, even some rooms were set on fire. The police have entered our mosque. Our families are pressuring us and for our own safety, we have to leave," another student stated. A couple of other students had mentioned how they didn't want their families to arrive at the university to pick them up as they didn't want them to get involved in the mess as well.

Under the Citizenship Amendment Act that was recently passed in both Houses of the Parliament, illegal migrants of the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, until December 31, 2014, will be eligible for Indian citizenship.

Students leaving #JamiaMilliaIslamia after police entered campus last night. Atmosphere of fear, says a student leaving for UP. @TheQuint . pic.twitter.com/a9SemGTNmN

— Anthony S Rozario (@anthonyrozerio) December 16, 2019