Teachers and students of Delhi University have severely criticised the varsity for suspending two students and asking six others to tender an apology for screening the BBC documentary India: The Modi Question on the campus.

DU has barred two PhD students — Lokesh Chugh and Ravinder Singh — from any kind of activities, including taking exams, for one year and asked six other students to submit a written apology for screening the documentary on the Gujarat riots on January 27.

The university on Friday called police on the campus as members of the All India Students Association and the Students’ Federation of India staged protests to demand the withdrawal of the “undemocratic” actions. Students complained that they were manhandled, taken to a police station in Burari and later released.

A student said the protest would continue on Saturday.

“The career of the two students is at stake. They have done no wrong. We met proctor Rajni Abbi on Wednesday to demand the withdrawal of the punishment, but we were threatened that more actions would be taken if we agitate,” the student, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The university had asked the parents of the students to appear before the proctor over the involvement of their wards in “illegal activities”.

The DU Teachers’ Front (DTF) said the action on students was uncalled for and politically motivated.

“This unjust move is legally questionable, morally reprehensible and constitutes a betrayal of educational institutions as forums for the widest debates and expression of diverse ideas and viewpoints,” a statement issued by DTF president Nandita Narain said.