Who Is Achinthya Sivalingan? Indian-Origin Student Arrested Over Anti-Israel Protest

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, tensions have spilled onto university campuses in the United States, and the arrest of two students has brought the issue to the forefront once again. Achinthya Sivalingan and Hassan Sayed, both Tamil Nadu-born, were arrested for staging a pro-Palestine protest on their campus. Both students, pursuing their academic endeavors at Princeton University, now face expulsion and disciplinary action as a consequence of their involvement in the protest.

Sivalingan, originally from Tamil Nadu, is pursuing a Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) in International Development, while Hassan Sayed is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the economics department at Princeton University. Both were detained by authorities as demonstrators erected tents within the university courtyard. The arrest, as reported by the Princeton Alumni Weekly, occurred following repeated warnings from the Department of Public Safety regarding the violation of university policy.

What began as a localized demonstration has now grown into a widespread movement, with thousands of students nationwide voicing their support for Palestine. From Columbia University to campuses nationwide, students have voiced their solidarity with Gaza and their condemnation of Israeli military actions.

Arrests and Campus Response

University authorities swiftly responded to the protest, with Sivalingan facing expulsion and disciplinary measures. Jennifer Morrill, a university spokesperson, confirmed their arrest, citing trespassing charges and subsequent warnings from the Department of Public Safety. 

Allegations surfaced regarding the eviction of Sivalingan and Sayed from their campus housing, with claims of minimal notice given to gather their belongings. Urvi, a first-year Ph.D. student who requested to be named only by her first name, described the arrest as "violent" and claimed zip ties were placed around their wrists, according to the  college alumni magazine.

However, university spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss refuted these claims, stating that the university had not evicted anyone. He clarified that students barred from campus were permitted to remain in their university-owned housing, pending further administrative decisions.

In a statement, Morrill, a spokesperson for the university, noted that setting up tents violated university regulations, resulting in the arrest of the two students for trespassing "[a]fter repeated warnings from the Department of Public Safety to cease the activity and leave the area."

Additionally, Morrill stated that Sivalingan and Sayed "have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process." She added that the rest of the tents were "voluntarily taken down by protestors."

Pro-Palestine Protests Across US Universities

The incident at Princeton University is part of a broader wave of pro-Palestine protests across top US universities. These demonstrations reflect growing student activism and solidarity with Palestinians amidst escalating tensions in the region. Student protesters have been calling for universities to divest their investments in Israel and advocate for an immediate ceasefire.