The police on Sunday barged into the Jamia campus, rounded up and detained around 100 students (File)

The Delhi police showed maximum restraint despite "provocation" during violence at Jamia Millia Islamia university on Sunday, a senior official said today, amid accusations that they used excessive force against students who were protesting against the new citizenship law. The officer said several police personnel were also injured.

"Around 30 police personnel received injuries, 2 SHO (station house officer) suffered fractures, one of our personnel is in the ICU (intensive care unit). 2 FIRs (first information report) have been registered for rioting and arsoning. Crime Branch will investigate the matter from all angles," Delhi Police spokesperson MS Randhawa was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

The police on Sunday barged into the Jamia campus, rounded up and detained around 100 students, after the protest turned violent. They were accused of beating and abusing students. The detained students were released early this morning after hundreds of students gathered outside the Delhi police headquarters in a show of strength.

"Yesterday, around 2 pm, the protest took place. Locals also participated. Our staff showed maximum restraint despite provocation. Around 4:30 pm, some protesters went towards Mata Mandir marg and set a bus on fire," he added.

Officials of the university have accused that the police entered the Jamia campus without permission.

"When we started pushing rowdy elements, they went inside. Police also chased them, stones were being pelted at us. We are doing a detailed investigation," the officer clarified.

Students on campuses in multiple cities across the country have come out in support of their counterparts at Jamia Millia Islamia. On Sunday, students at the Aligarh Muslim University clashed with the police when they were stopped from taking out a march in solidarity with the Jamia students. The crackdown also triggered protests in several colleges, including the IITs in Mumbai, Kanpur and Chennai.

Protests by students and others have erupted across the country over the new citizenship law that makes it easier for non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to become Indian citizens. Critics say the law discriminates against Muslims and is against secular principles of the constitution.