Coimbatore-born Achinthya Sivalingan, a Master’s student in Public Affairs (MPA) on International Development at Princeton University, was one of two students arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration on campus.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Sivalingan and Hassan Sayed were detained by authorities as student protesters attempted to set up tents in the university courtyard. The arrests were confirmed by the Princeton Alumni Weekly, which reported that zip ties were used to restrain the students.

The protest, which aimed to draw attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, saw Sivalingan and Sayed facing charges of trespassing after repeated warnings from the Department of Public Safety. University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill clarified that pitching tents violated campus policy, leading to the arrests.

Both Sivalingan and Sayed have been immediately barred from campus pending a disciplinary process. Despite their arrest, the remaining protesters voluntarily dismantled their tents.

The demonstrations at Princeton are part of a wider wave of pro-Palestine protests that have erupted across several top universities in the United States. Students are calling for divestment from Israel and advocating for an immediate ceasefire amid rising tensions in the region.

This incident follows similar protests at Columbia University in New York, where dozens of arrests were made last week after police intervened to disperse an occupation. The clashes underscore the growing rift between student activists and university administrations over issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Sivalingan, originally from Coimbatore, India, and pursuing a Master’s degree, joins a growing number of students worldwide who are mobilizing in solidarity with Palestinians and demanding action from their educational institutions.