Arrested for participating in pro-Palestine protests on campus

Face charges of trespassing and have been barred from campus

Achinthya Sivalingan is arrested Indian-origin Princeton University student

Indian-origin Princeton University student Achinthya Sivalingan finds herself embroiled in controversy after being arrested for participating in pro-Palestine protests on campus, alongside fellow student Hassan Sayed.

The arrests occurred as protesters erected tents for an encampment in a university courtyard early Thursday morning, violating university policy.

Both graduate students face charges of trespassing and have been promptly barred from the campus, reportedly according to university spokesperson Jennifer Morrill. Despite this, they will be permitted to remain in their university-owned housing.

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Sivalingan, originally from Tamil Nadu, is pursuing a Master’s in Public Affairs in International Development, while Sayed is a PhD candidate. Morrill stated that the students had received repeated warnings from the Department of Public Safety to cease their activities before facing disciplinary action.

Contrary to claims of violence during the arrests, the university maintained that no force was used by officers and the arrests were made without resistance. The incident reflects broader tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with protests erupting on campuses nationwide.

These demonstrations, sparked at Columbia University in New York, have spread across the country, with students demanding divestment from companies profiting from the conflict and advocating for an immediate ceasefire.

Despite the arrests, the pro-Palestine movement shows no signs of abating as students continue to voice their solidarity.