New Delhi, Aug 16: Over a hundred Jamia Millia Islamia students are sitting on strike near the Gulistan-e-Ghalib gate of the main campus to protest "communal profiling" of the minority university.

Sources said six Delhi policemen "raided" a hostel on campus on Saturday afternoon and questioned students about their families and subjects of study before filming them. Angry students went on strike soon after.

"Police are threatening us. They conducted a raid in a hostel on Saturday and asked for details of the students. This university is being profiled because it is a minority institution. We will not tolerate this," Ambar Fatmi, a student, said.

The institution came up in 1920 as a symbol of anti-colonial activism and pro-independence aspiration. Rabindranath Tagore had once called it "one of the most progressive" institutions.

However, things began changing in 2008 after police conducted an operation against suspected terrorists in nearby Jamia Nagar. Those arrested included some Jamia students. Fatmi said that marked the start of negative profiling of the institution.

Striking students recounted that the six policemen were in plainclothes when they drove into the campus and pulled up in front of Allama Iqbal hostel in three cars that did not have beacons.

"They started asking the students about their address, course of study, parents. We confronted them. They said they had taken the permission of the proctor and started filming us," a student said.

He claimed Jamia was facing a witch-hunt because it had 50 per cent reservation in admissions for Muslims. No other group is offered quotas.

The NDA government has said that denial of reservation to Dalits, tribals and backward classes in minority institutions is unconstitutional. It has challenged Jamia's minority status in Delhi High Court.

"We want the vice-chancellor to hold a news conference and clarify the university administration's stand. He must clarify how police entered the campus and who gave permission," a student said.

Chief proctor Mehtab Alam has written to the deputy commissioner of police (south east) saying the six officers did not seek permission to enter the premises.

"This incident has created a big law and order problem on the campus.... I request you to identify these personnel and take suitable action."

Fatmi said the strike would continue till the university clarified its stand.