The JNU students were stopped near Ambedkar Bhawan and later detained. (Photo: AP)

The Delhi Police on Thursday detained several students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who were marching towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan in protest against the violence on the university campus.

The JNU students were stopped near Ambedkar Bhawan and later detained. The protesters were demanding the removal of JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar following the alleged inaction during the January 5 violence.

#WATCH Delhi Police remove women protesters while they were marching towards Rashtrapati Bhavan. Students are demanding removal of the Jawaharlal Nehru University's Vice Chancellor following Jan 5 violence in the campus. pic.twitter.com/HzT2AjkZF5 ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2020

All the detainees who were taken to Mandir Marg Police Station were released later, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) said on Twitter.

All detainees from Mandir Marg have thankfully been released. #VCHatao. pic.twitter.com/gQ3CWwfzzm JNUSU (@JNUSUofficial) January 9, 2020

The police resorted to baton charge to control the mob who tried to block the traffic at Janpath. Using loudspeakers, the police appealed to the crowd to maintain peace. At least one protester was reported to be injured in the march.

JNUSU claimed that women protesters were detained after 6 pm without women officers present at the spot. The students' union demanded Delhi Police to explain the same.

It is past 6PM.



Can the @DelhiPolice

explain why some women protesters were reportedly picked up after sunset and without female officers present?#VCHatao JNUSU (@JNUSUofficial) January 9, 2020

In another tweet, JNUSU said lawyers have been sent to the area where students were detained.

"Lawyers have been mobilised to the area. We will not allow our rights to be trampled on @DelhiPolice #VCHatao," the tweet said.

Lawyers have been mobilised to the area. We will not allow our rights to be trampled on @DelhiPolice #VCHatao JNUSU (@JNUSUofficial) January 9, 2020

Before the students tried to proceed towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a delegation of JNUSU and JNU Teachers' Association also met Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry officials and demanded the removal of the Vice-Chancellor from his post.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police said one of the student leaders provoked protesters to march towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan after the meeting with HRD officials.

Police said, "The delegation came out after the meeting, one of the student leaders provoked gathering to move towards Rashtrapati Bhavan. Consequently, they stopped normal traffic at Rajendra Prasad Road. They were prevented from doing so. 11 persons were detained and subsequently released."

After the incident, security at Rashtrapati Bhawan and Vijay Chowk was increased in view of the protests. The security at North Block and South Block was also tightened. Police personnel would remain deployed at these spots for the whole night.

(With inputs from PTI)