JNU Violence | SabrangIndia

18 months on, no arrests in JNU violence case

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 11:21:17 +0000

Image Courtesy:newindianexpress.com

During the Parliament’s ongoing Monsoon Session, Lok Sabha member Dayanidhi Maran asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) about the progress of the investigation in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Campus violence that took place in January last year.

To this, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai submitted a response saying, “As reported by Delhi Police, no arrest has been made in these cases.” He added that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch has been constituted to investigate the three cases registered at Vasant Kunj (North) Police Station in Delhi, but no arrests have been made.

His written answer dated August 3 reads, “Delhi Police has reported that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch has been constituted to investigate three cases registered at Police Station Vasant Kunj (North), Delhi regarding violence in JawaharLal Nehru University (JNU) Campus in January-2020. The investigation conducted inter-alia includes examination of witnesses; collection and analysis of footages; and examination of identified suspects.”

On January 5, 2020, violence was unleashed on campus when masked assailants, allegedly Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members, entered the university campus and attacked hostel students with sticks, stones and iron rods. The attack started at 6:30 in the evening when masked men and women armed with lathis, rods and sledgehammers entered the campus and attacked JNU Students’ Union representatives. They also entered hostels (girls hostel included) and smashed furniture, beat up students and teachers. More than 30 students were grievously injured, according to media reports, and some were even rushed to AIIMS for treatment.

Soon after the attack, many questions were raised over the alleged inaction by Delhi Police when the violence raged inside one the top universities of the country. In November last year, the Delhi Police had reportedly given itself a clean chit and stated that they could not have entered the campus without the assent of the university authorities. A few screenshots from WhatsApp groups also emerged that pointed to the fact that the whole attack was allegedly planned and orchestrated by the ABVP. Read more about it in this SabrangIndia report.

This attack had taken place against the backdrop of anti CAA-NRC protests, wherein students from different colleges all across the country had been demonstrating against the discriminatory citizenship amendment law that sought to provide citizenship on the basis of religion.

The answer may be read here:

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JNU violence: Delhi Police ‘probes’ negligence accusations, gives itself a clean chit

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 06:41:59 +0000

Image Courtesy:indianexpress.com

The Delhi Police ‘fact-finding committee’ has unearthed facts that prove Delhi Police’s claims that Delhi Police innocent of all charges of negligence in connection with the widely reported violence that took place in the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on January 5 2020!

Basically, Delhi Police has given itself a clean chit, yet again, reported The Indian Express. This time Delhi Police reached the conclusion after the report of a ‘fact-finding committee’, it formed to “probe the sequence of events” and “negligence on part of local police” when around 100 masked persons went on a rampage, armed with sticks and metal rods inside the JNU campus for around four hours on January 5. The arson and violence had left 36 students, teachers and staff injured. According to the IE an FIR was registered, and the case was subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch, however no arrest has been made so far.

The violence and its aftermath was widely reported and many raised the basic question as to why the well trained to respond Delhi Police force chose to remain outside the campus even though violence continued to rage inside. As reported by IE and all other media outlets, this inaction of the Delhi Police was in sharp contrast to police action at Jamia Millia Islamia weeks earlier, in December 2019. At Jamia, the Delhi Police had barged into the campus and allegedly beaten up students inside the library. However, the Delhi Police have maintained that while they had “entered Jamia to chase down rioters, they couldn’t enter JNU without the assent of the university authorities” recalled the IE report.

Here’s what happened at JNU that day: Masked people, allegedly Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members invaded the campus with lathis and rods and launched a murderous attack on JNU students. Even though the mainstream media conveniently called it clashes between ABVP and JNU Students Union, images from JNU told a completely different story. The attack started at 6:30 in the evening when masked men armed with lathis, rods and sledgehammers entered the campus terrorist style and attacked JNUSU representatives. They entered hostels (girls hostel included) and smashed furniture and beat up students and teachers inside the campus.

Questions were raised over the alleged inaction by Delhi Police when the violence raged inside one the top universities of the country, located in the National Capital. “How did it allow the goons to enter the campus and then let them go? Why have none of them been arrested even when most of the media has openly carried reports of planned action allegedly by the ABVP members in Delhi University?”

Eventually the Delhi Police set up a committee, headed by Joint Commissioner of Police (Western Range) Shalini Singh, on the instructions of then Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, and comprising four inspectors and two ACPs. According to the IE report, the committee recorded statements of then DCP (south-west) Devender Arya, then ACP Ramesh Kakkar, SHO Vasant Kunj (North) Rituraj, and Inspector Anand Yadav, who was stationed at the administrative block on the morning of January 5 following the High Court’s directions to deploy personnel to ensure protests do not happen within a 100-metre radius of the block where the Vice-Chancellor sits, added the news report.

The IE reported that that all police personnel gave similar statements while explaining the sequence of events from 8 AM on January 5, when 27 police personnel in plainclothes, including women, arrived for duty at the JNU Administration Block and relieved the night shift. It added a comment from a senior Delhi Police officer who chose to remain anonymous that “Their job was to ensure compliance with the High Court order directing police to ensure that no dharna or protest takes place within 100 metres of the admin block. All those police personnel did not have any weapons or lathis. The PCR call started from 2.30 PM and in total, 23 calls were made from inside the campus to the police.”

The committee’s report mentioned that eight PCR calls were made from 3.45 PM to 4.15 PM, which were mainly related to beating of students at Periyar hostel. Later, 14 PCR calls, about isolated incidents of quarrels and gathering by students, were made from 4.15 PM to 6 PM, reported IE. “DCP Arya visited the campus along with his subordinates around 5-5.15 PM, but returned to the main gate as the situation appeared normal at the time. The officials during enquiry also showed Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar’s WhatsApp message, which was sent at 6.24 PM to Arya, the ACP and the SHO, asking them to be stationed at the gates. At 7.45 PM, Registrar Pramod Kumar handed over an official letter to Delhi Police, seeking increased presence and deployment on the premises,” another officer told the IE.

And soon enough the “fact-finding committee, after recording their statements, concluded that the campus had been on the boil through the day but the situation was brought under control with police intervention.”

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JNU violence must be investigated by a judicial commission

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 10:59:19 +0000

Image Courtesy: moneycontrol.com

Delhi Police’s press conference on the JNU issue yesterday was deeply disappointing though not surprising given the nature of the political pressure on the police and ‘ready to do anything’ variety of officers allegedly violating commitment to the constitution of India.

JNU faced unprecedented violence on the night of January 5 when masked goons attacked the university students and faculty members, as the administration watched silently and police did not intervene. The hollowness of police claims was exposed by various new-portals how the JNUSU president tried to contact the police but remained unresponsive. The visuals of teachers and student being beaten with iron rods shocked the nation and exposed the ABVP which has become a lawless militia of ruling party to threaten the dissent and divergent views.

The images of the President of JNUSU Aishe Ghosh beaten with rods should remind us how the goons and thugs being trained to threaten and intimidate women activists. A woman teacher too was thrashed and she was admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

But what happens after five days ? The Delhi police show the ‘photographs’ of the ‘accused’ of the JNU violence, name AISA, SFI and AISF for the violence but do not speak a single sentence about the ABVP, the organisation accused by most of the students as instigating and indulging in the violence against the students. The entire press conference looked like a well planned ‘narrative’ setter for the evening news, particularly those who started the campaign ‘tukde tukde gang’. The slaves started chanting ‘goons unmasked’ and shamelessly started calling Aishe Ghosh, the JNUSU president a goon. It is terrible that police and the media are trying to create such an impression when a young student leader, who happens to be a girl, is being portrayed as a goon or a criminal while those who destroyed property, hit at the students remained unidentified till date as per police version. Who will police the police? Who will investigate their complicity in the entire episode?

Police all over the country hast never been as unprofessional as today. Former Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Vikram Singh openly castigated the Delhi police and blamed them for their mischief. They can’t investigate an issue in which they are accused. The problem is, people have lost faith in all the government agencies. The courts are the last resort but they too have been too slow and some time preachy on these issues that they have terribly disappointed us. Yet, we will still feel that a multimember judicial commission can be formed to look into major cases of police complicity in both Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to give a broader framework to discipline the police.

India Today’s expose has unmasked the Delhi police’s political complicity with the JNU goons. Delhi police will have to work doubly hard but they will not succeed unless their officer come out of the mindset which has already declared students other than ABVP as criminal or ‘urban naxal’. We know politicians and their petty politics rule today, and often preside over department which once interrogated them. But at the end of the day, it is the police administration as well as bureaucracy which has to function and act. We all know that police and administration has to work under the government and there are pressures on them, but if the police work where their complicity is openly visible and innocent are being booked while the goons are being let off then the time for all of us to worry. It is time for the Supreme Court to intervene.

We have faith in our highest court but in our life timings are very important. If a decision come after five month of a state under complete internet ban then what does it mean. How will court’s order benefit individuals if they are unimplementable or do not benefit directly. The courts are giving great judgement but it is time they do more. The country is in a serious crisis as political leadership feel that anarchy suits them well politically and that by polarising people they would be ensuring their return. People have to remain vigilant against such ideas and continue with their struggle.

Supreme Court has ordered that section 144 is not a temporary thing and can not be used every now and then to stop political dissent. Similarly it has declared internet as fundamental rights. Will now the government and the administration think of these things according to Supreme Court guidelines. We hope good sense will prevail and government will not criminalise the students who do not agree with it.

It is time to seriously listen to their voices and concern and not to divide them between ‘nationalists verses nationalists’. How can a party or a leadership be so crude to term their own countrymen as anti national? Time has come to stop uttering these words and listen to the voices protesting and take back all the cases against students and other activists who protesting against the act. Government has to take initiative and not dictate and dominate through its ministers and administration. Withdraw all the cases JNUSU leaders and file cases against those who spread goondaism and terror on the campus and damaged property. Will the police have the courage and independence to do so?

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Delhi Police names Left-wing students as suspects in JNU violence

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 14:35:48 +0000

Image Courtesy: thelogicalindian.com

In fresh developments in the matter of attacks on the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Delhi Police has identified nine suspects including victim Aishe Ghosh, the JNU students’ union President who was gravely injured in the incident that was carried out by masked goons.

Other people identified by the Delhi police are said to be members of Left-wing student organizations.

DCP Joy Tirkey who addressed a press conference in the matter, said that the cases are under investigation by the Crime Branch of India. He also said that generally, the Delhi Police informs the media after the investigation, but because of the misinformation spread in this matter, the police was holding the briefing to ascertain the chain of events in the matter.

The police disclosed nine names and released the photographs of the suspects saying that they haven’t detained anyone yet, but will serve notices to them and ask them about their presence at the place of the incident.

The names given by the Delhi Police are:

Aishe Ghosh, JNUSU President

Vikas Patel, MA Korean Studies

Pankaj Mishra, School of Social Science

Chunchun Kumar, former JNU student

Yogendra Bhardwaj, PhD Sanskrit

Dolan Samanata, School of Social Science

Sucheta Talukdar, School of Social Science

Priya Ranjan, School of Language and Cultural Studies

The police have named organizations like Students’ Front of India, All India Students’ Association, All India Students’ Federation, Democratic Students’ Federation to be involved in the violence, claiming they were the ones who threw out the staff of the Central Server room to stop students from registering for the semester exams. The police also said that they attacked people at the Periyar hostel and claimed that some members of the JNUSU were also involved.

The students have been booked for assault, criminal intimidation and other charges. This, after the police said that they could not find CCTV evidence and were only acting based on accounts of witnesses and videos and photographs from mobile phones.

No information about the masked goons was given by the police during the briefing.

However, JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh has spoken to the media saying, “”Delhi Police can do their inquiry. I also have evidence to show how I was attacked. Biased information by the police. I don’t fear anything, haven’t done anything wrong. I have not carried out any assault.” She said she spoke to the HRD Secretary Amit Khare discussing the demands of the students of JNU and that he has ensured positive intervention in the matter, a circular for which will be released soon.

The JNU students union also issued a statement on the matter saying that the SIT that was instituted was fake. Their statement said that the DCP had maintained a deafening silence on the involvement of the ABVP students and very had conveniently forgotten to mention that some of the students named as suspects were in fact from the ABVP. It also pointed out to the shoddiness of the investigation where the DCP has passed of one student to be another.

They also stated that Aishe Ghosh and some other students who were named as suspects were falsely implicated on the basis of fake videos and that the ABVP students who attacked the JNU students on the night of January 5 also had knives and acid to potentially injure students.

Their statement read, “The Police is conveniently talking the language of Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar. For Mamidala, only people with ABVP are students and rest are agitators. Same is the case with the Delhi Police. It is a fact that the registration process undertaken by the JNU administration was a sham in which the overwhelming majority of students did not take part and the administration has gone on to the extent of claiming that those who merely cleared their mess dues, without taking the fee hike are registered! The registration process which is a process of physical verification was turned into a mockery by the administration through its whatsapp university model.”

Speaking about the MHRD they said, “The MHRD on the other hand is talking about addressing students demands by revoking the utility and service charge. Although it is significant that such an administration was forced to concede even if their intention to ultimately raise is clear, the approach of the MHRD is to wash it’s hands off rather than address the crisis May we remind the MHRD secretary that it is only a part of the discussion that took place on 11th. And considering the culpability of the VC and his supporters within faculty in the violence, the MHRD should follow up on advice it had given to the VC which he ignored and take steps to remove him. The advice of the secretary to students would be well founded if he took action on the VC who is responsible for the chaos.”

They said that to deflect attention from imported goons, incidents were being twisted and distortions spread and asked the public to look through the malicious agenda apart from saying that their spirit would never die down.

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Solidarity pours in for brutally attacked JNU students and teachers

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 04:37:29 +0000

Image Courtesy: deccanherald.com

Once again, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has brought together the whole of India to stand against injustice, mob violence, police excesses and inaction and the fascist policies of the government.

On the night of January 5, 2020, students and teachers were brutally attacked by masked goons who entered the campus to quash their protest against the fee hike imposed by the University administration. The JNU students’ union President Aishe Ghosh was badly injured on her head, Professor Suchitra Sen too was attacked and around 26 students were reportedly hurt.

The news of the attack spread like wildfire and an outpouring of solidarity came through from all over India. People from different states and universities marched in support of the students and condemned the violence on peaceful protestors.

Here is a round-up of how India stood for JNU.

1. Aligarh – Aligarh Muslim University – On Sunday, January 5, 2020 the students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) hit the streets with a peaceful candlelight march to protest against the violence at JNU and demanded that the perpetrators be booked for the violence.

https://twitter.com/MoazRamzi/status/1215215908949377024

Protest at #AMU
Live.@Maq_one @brumbyoz @tanwer_m @AdityaMenon22 pic.twitter.com/FlfadgMGGe

— Moaz Ramzi | معاذ رمزي (@MoazRamzi) January 9, 2020

2. West Bengal – The outpouring of support from West Bengal has been heartening. Students and teachers from Jadavpur University joined hands to condemn the attack on JNU students. The rally held by the students’ union of the arts, science and engineering faculties saw slogans like “Awaaz do sab ek ho” and “Lathi goli ki Sarkar, nahi chalegi ab ki baar”.

https://twitter.com/TanveerAnas/status/1214804246606024704

Protest at Jadavpur University against #CAA_NRC_NPR & solidarity with JNU students.#BharatBandh2020 #MazdoorKisanStrike #IndiaStrikesAgainstModiGovt #CAAProtests #NPRisNRC #BharatBandh #CAA_NRC_Protest #IndiaAgainstCAA_NPR_NRC #IndiaAgainstViolence pic.twitter.com/pijwRL1Btd

— Tanveer (@TanveerAnas) January 8, 2020

Inspired by the women of Shaheen Bagh, women staged a sit-in leaderless and banner less protest at Kolkata’s Park Circus in solidarity with the women attacked at JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.

https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&q=women%20protest%20park%20circus&src=typd&lang=en

Just wow!!

Inspired by the women of #ShaheenBagh , women in Kolkata have started sitting in protest against CAA, NRC & NPR at Park Circus – Kolkata.

AND THE CHAIN WILL GO ON.. #ShaheenBaghProtest has been an inspiration..@IndiasMuslims @SidrahDP @deepsealioness @Ssaniya25 pic.twitter.com/uZ0YEWMJAe

— Saqlain Quadri (@ImSaqlainQuadri) January 7, 2020

Students from the Indian Statistical Institute formed a human chain and sang Jana Gana Mana on Wednesday afternoon to protest Sunday’s attack on students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University. Reciting ‘Africa’ by Rabindranath Tagore and ‘Hum Dekhenge’ by Faiz at the ‘cultural assembly’, they spoke against the atmosphere of discrimination in the country.

https://twitter.com/anandavardhanan/status/1215106042956115968

Elo ora lohar hathkodi niye, nokh jader teekhno tomar nekrer cheye

And then they arrived, manacles in hand / Claws sharper by far than any on your wolves.

Tagore’s “Ode to Africa” at a cultural assembly at ISI Kolkata to protest the attack in/on JNU.https://t.co/2Ecr4IYUzO

— Anand (@anandavardhanan) January 9, 2020

3. New Delhi – The people of Delhi called people to join a protest against the JNU attacks starting from Mandi House. However, to quell the same, the Delhi Police imposed section 144 there. Yet, not cowered down by the police’s tactics, people sang and raised slogans condemning fascism.

https://twitter.com/Huzaifa_Aamir/status/1215245074251968512

Today Joined Citizens March From Mandi House to HRD Ministry against brutal attack of ABVP on #JNU studens and draconian laws CAA +NRC + NPR#CAA_NRC_Protest #JNUUnderAttack #IndiaAgainstCAA pic.twitter.com/D52EM275BN

— Huzaifa Aamir Rashadi (@Huzaifa_Aamir) January 9, 2020

After the attack on JNU students and faculty on the night of January 5, 2020, Delhi came together in condemnation of the shameful act. The protest continued at JNU, with actress Deepika Padukone standing in solidarity with the students at JNU.

https://twitter.com/Suresh_Mathew_/status/1214567803308523520

Actor @deepikapadukone meeting #AisheGhosh in #JNU. She’s at ground zero despite knowing the backlash it will receive from RW goons who will attempt to boycott her film which releases in two days. Coming from Deepika who has largely been silent on political issues this is BIG. pic.twitter.com/xaNTHpezfU

— Suresh Mathew (@Suresh_Mathew_) January 7, 2020

Even St. Stephen’s College, stood up for the students of JNU with students gathered under colourful umbrellas walking out of their classrooms, for the first time in 30 years, to actually take part in a protest, reported The Telegraph.

https://twitter.com/thefirstindia/status/1214897877199114240

The St Stephens College in Delhi joined other institutions in showing solidarity with other students in condemning the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University.#StStephensCollege #JNUViolence #JNUSolidarity pic.twitter.com/D6rBOV9SN1

— First India (@thefirstindia) January 8, 2020

Thousands of students from Delhi University paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda and marched against the violence perpetrated on students and faculty members in universities across India in a silent protest.

https://twitter.com/sevadalBAK/status/1215173090256121857

Students of Delhi University pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda in a silent protest against violence perpetrated on students and faculty members in university campuses across India.

We salute these bravehearts. pic.twitter.com/DV5IhcXheL

— Banka Congress Sevadal (@sevadalBAK) January 9, 2020

4. Mumbai – Mumbai came to the streets immediately to condemn the attack on JNU students and teachers, starting with a peaceful protest at the Gateway of India.

https://twitter.com/ShifaShikalgar/status/1214838041694617600

Protest at Gateway of India from 6/1/20. Mumbai stand with Students of #JNU #AMU #JAMIA ??#StandWithJNU pic.twitter.com/3QBox3pTZb

— Shifa Shikalgar (@ShifaShikalgar) January 8, 2020

Bollywood celebrities staged a silent protest at Carter Road in Bandra to show their support for the JNU victims.

https://twitter.com/18AKGOYAL/status/1214739302858379264

Taapsee Pannu, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap & Other Bollywood Celebrities Join Mumbai Protest Against JNU Attack https://t.co/BM11rqwC6B

— ASHWANI KUMAR GOYAL (@18AKGOYAL) January 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/pencilpusher24/status/1214906947171999745

Some more visuals from the silent protest at Carter Road right now. pic.twitter.com/zFb4XyfEhi

— Gaurav Sarkar (@pencilpusher24) January 8, 2020

Thousands came out in support in various other areas like Mumbra with the hashtag #JNUWeWithYou.

https://twitter.com/Nafees1325/status/1215234741642973184

#JNUweWithYou students of mumbra and kausa protest in solidarity with JNU, JAMIA and AMU. pic.twitter.com/wbRNbvZXz4

— NAFEES AHMED SHAIKH (@Nafees1325) January 9, 2020

https://twitter.com/JD_Edits/status/1215261945256767488

Mumbra protest against jnu violence #JNUwewithyou #JNUTerrorAttack #JNUViolence pic.twitter.com/GLtZBaePpy

— J_Editsgfx (@JD_Edits) January 9, 2020

https://twitter.com/Saleh_Batlawala/status/1215255737875648512

9th January 2020
At Mittal Ground, Mumbra.
Students are like a complete body if one part is hurt the whole body will feel the discomfort.#CAAProtests #JNUweWithYou #NRC_CAA_Protests @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/94CVzGpIIF

— Saleh Batlawala (@Saleh_Batlawala) January 9, 2020

Students of IIT Bombay too extended their support to JNU students and faculty.

https://twitter.com/couchbatata/status/1214428675736649728

IITB stands with #JNU pic.twitter.com/iT4p0XcgEP

— Divyanshu (@couchbatata) January 7, 2020

https://twitter.com/srivatsayb/status/1213885190872788992

And it begins..

Students of IIT Bombay protest against ABVP’s mob violence on JNU students. Several universities have started protesting across India

A NATIONWIDE STRIKE in solidarity with JNU must be called

Let every youth know what this govt is doingpic.twitter.com/hKq4jhughZ

— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) January 5, 2020

https://twitter.com/IITB4Justice/status/1213889644258938881

Students of IIT Bombay in solidarity with students of JNU #JNUViolence #iitbwithjnu pic.twitter.com/Hpjltq19XA

— IITB4Justice (@IITB4Justice) January 5, 2020

5. Bangalore – Bangalore always showed up in solidarity with the people of India for the causes that mattered most. After heavily protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), students and various other professionals came out to voice their anger against the attack on the pupils of JNU.

https://twitter.com/TanuKul/status/1214049328366358528

Students of NLSIU and IIMB late on Sunday night had a candle light vigil against the brutal attack on students of JNU. More protests planned today @THBengaluru pic.twitter.com/VZgHC2eOrd

— Tanu (@TanuKul) January 6, 2020

https://twitter.com/AdityaJossen/status/1215245173183016960

Lawyers of Bangalore standing opposite the Vidhan Soudha, protesting against CAA & NRC and in solidarity with JNU. #bangaloreagainstcab #SolidarityWithJnu pic.twitter.com/CnrXP7TLPf

— Aditya Jossen (@AdityaJossen) January 9, 2020

https://twitter.com/iimb4justice/status/1214878719271038976

We, the members of IIM Bangalore community, strongly condemn the attack on the students and faculty of JNU. We extend our solidarity to JNU in this solidarity statement, signed by 271 members of IIMB Community. pic.twitter.com/wUFEJ5vlYy

— IC4J (@Ic4Justice) January 8, 2020

It’s true when they say that when it rains, it pours. The students of JNU who have been fighting for the longest time against the management’s decision to revoke the fee hike that if implemented, will lead to more than 40% of the students being bereft of quality education.

The dastardly attack by the alleged ABVP goons or the Hindu Raksha Dal which has claimed responsibility for the attack, has only brought together more people to support JNU’s cause. The attack which displayed the complicity of the police and the government, has today, once again brought together the future and the strength of India, its students, together to support inclusivity and foster democracy.

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Maha CM compares JNU violence to 26/11 terror attack

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 13:24:43 +0000

Image Courtesy: thehindu.com

In light of the violence unleashed against the students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, “When I saw the news of JNU attack on TV, it reminded me of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.”

Saying that students feel “unsafe” in the country, he said, “I will not allow anything like JNU to happen in Maharashtra.”

On January 5, 2020, a group of masked goons had entered the JNU campus unleashing terror on students and teachers alike, wielding iron rods and sledgehammers, damaging property and brutally injuring many in the campus.

At the press conference held at his residence Matoshree, Thackeray also described the masked attackers in JNU to be “cowards” and said, “The violence in JNU is a resounding reminder of the November 26 terror attacks in Mumbai. Those who carried out these attacks, hiding their faces behind masks, are cowards. They must be identified, nabbed and punished for their crimes.”

Condemning the Delhi police he said, “If Delhi Police fail to find out perpetrators of the attack, then they will also be in the dock.”

When reporters asked him if he thought the incident was sponsored, he chose not to jump the gun and said, “It will become clear if this was a sponsored attack. Things will become clear one by one. It is the government’s job to investigate and take action.”

Assuring that the students in Maharashtra had nothing to fear he said, “Everything will be done to ensure students in Maharashtra are safe. I assure them that they are safe. No one can touch even a single hair on their head. The law will stand by them and take strict action against law breakers.”

Calling the JNU incident a “blot on our country” he added, “There is unrest among students now, because they feel unsafe. This is a blot on our country. No student should feel afraid, they are our future, and their thought process must be protected, nurtured and shaped. I am certain such violence will not be tolerated in our country either.”

He also commented on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) saying, “No one in Maharashtra has anything to worry about, I have made it very clear. I will never let anything untoward happen in Maharashtra.”

Uddhav Thackeray had earlier likened the police brutalities on the students of Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMIU) to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre saying, “I am using my words very carefully –the manner in which the police entered the compound of (Jamia Millia Islamia) and shot at the students, it was almost like the days of Jallianwala Bagh.”

Members of the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also echoed Thackeray’s sentiments. Congress leader Ashok Chavan said, “What happened on 26/11 was terrorism, what happened in JNU was an attempt to terrorize. Mumbai attack terrorists came from outside and the ones yesterday are staying here and terrorizing.”

Jitendra Awhad from NCP said, “It is just not a terrorist attack. It is Modi-Shah sponsored terrorism.”

However, India Today reported that Uddhav’s comment had left victims of the 26/11 terror attack shocked. Speaking to the news channel some victims said that the comment was unwarranted and uncalled for saying that the seemingly politically motivated incident trivialized the terrorism against the country that left around 166 people dead.

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FIR on injured JNUSU President invites ire of many

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 10:50:30 +0000

Image Courtesy: dnaindia.com

“FIR on Aishe for head injury; FIR on Pehlu for being lynched; FIR on Jamia, UP victims for police attack. They think we are idiots?”

These were the words of Anand Patwardhan, the documentary filmmaker well known for his award-winning documentary titled “Ram ke Naam” on the Babri masjid demolition.

The JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) administration filed a complaint with Delhi basis which an FIR was filed on January 5 against Aishe Ghosh and 19 others for attacking security guards and vandalising a server room in the university campus on January 4. On January 5 itself masked goons, suspected to belong to right-wing ABVP had entered JNU premises and unleashed terror on the unarmed students and teachers.

The FIR states that student agitators including Aishe Ghosh and Saket Moon allegedly entered the Communication and Information Services office by “breaking” a glass door and damaged the fibre optic cables, servers and biometric devices. The Vasant Kuni North police station registered a case under IPC (Indian Penal Code) Section 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) and damage to public property.

This has been done as Ghosh, with a bandage on her head addressed students after her release from the hospital saying that every blow of the iron rod used on her and other injured students and teachers will be answered to by debate and discussion and the university’s culture will never be eroded. JNUSU also demanded resignation of the VC (Vice-Chancellor) of JNU for failing to check up on injured students and professors.

The FIR being seen a fear tactic by most, has invited a lot of criticism on social media from some well-known Twitter users as well:

https://twitter.com/sardesairajdeep/status/1214436317829971968

No attacker named by cops, no arrest made against the ‘masked mob’ with sticks and rods 36 hours on but case filed against JNU student union president Aishe Ghosh who suffered head injuries! Has Delhi police lost its marbles?

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 7, 2020

https://twitter.com/SreenivasanJain/status/1214427190932099073

The FIR against Aishe Ghosh, based on JNU admin complaint, was reg’d at 8:45 pm on 5th Jan.

By 8:45 pm, JNU was rocked with violence. Aishe, others injured.

At this time, Admin chose to lodge FIR against her for violence of *previous* day, 4th Jan.

@arvindgunasekar reports.

— Sreenivasan Jain (@SreenivasanJain) January 7, 2020

https://twitter.com/srinivasiyc/status/1214409905118908416

Instead of arresting the horde that came in and attacked students and teachers, @DelhiPolice files a case against the victim!

Not a single arrest has been made of any of the masked attackers.

Delhi Police continues to show who they actually work for. https://t.co/pT7q2m8upZ

— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) January 7, 2020

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NAPM expresses solidarity with JNU

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 09:12:33 +0000

Image Courtesy: indiatoday.in

The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has condemned the unprecedented violence unleashed by masked goons at the JNU campus specifically targeting student union activists, students active in anti-fee hike agitations, the faculty members supporting them and some Kashmiri and Dalit students.

In a statement, the NAPM writes, “The attack has left more than 20 students and faculty members with grievous injuries, fractures and cuts, including a severe head injury to JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh, Prof Sucharita Sen and others. In a well-guarded university, the complete breakdown of law and order, deliberate switching off of the street lights, lockdown of the main entrance, stopping of ambulances and any help from entering the campus, point towards the complicity of the JNU administration and the police authorities as well, who played along with the right wing protestors at the main gate, in events following the attack late in the night.”

The NAPM further said, “This attack is in line with the continued attack of the Universities of the right wing and Hindutva forces and sustained propaganda often aided by mainstream news channels who have tried to portray Universities as a hotbed of anti-national and naxal politics. This is nothing but the political vendetta because the Universities across the country have consistently opposed the neo-liberal, anti-people and fascist policies of the NDA government. These attacks are a desperate attempt by the BJP to deflect attention from the continued protests against the CAA and other policies and a move to impact the Delhi elections sensing defeat. The heartening fact is that the resistance is only growing and peoples movements of this country are not going to cede to the terror and violence unleashed by the State and right-wing forces.”

Stating that the chronology of events that unfolded on the evening of January 5 were indicative of a shameful episode for the Delhi Police as well as who gave safe passage to the masked goons to carry out their violent attacks, it said that the inaction of the police in defending the rights of the citizens to protest peacefully and the their highhandedness had become a regular occurrence; evident in anti-CAA protests in Jamia and JNU protests.

JNU had been gripped in protests after the proposed fee-hike by the Inter Hall Administration which was set to leave many students from marginalized communities devoid of education. The Delhi Police had earlier unleashed its terror on the students of JNU, but the students did not budge from their ask, still going strong with their strike and making the decision to boycott the semester examinations to be held at the start of the New Year.

It was then, the NAPM writes that, the ABVP goons were sent to break the strike of the JNU students on January 4 where they attacked the students and pelted stones at them. Following this, the Teachers’ Association had called for a peace meeting on January 5 and this was when a group of around 50 masked goons unleashed indiscriminate violence on students and teachers alike.

NAPM reports that the goons not only hurt the students and teachers, but also did not spare dhaba workers; abusing everyone and issuing death threats. ‘Cyclops’ Security which is has been contracted for security work at JNU also was party to the incident.

NAPM said that keeping the evidence that had come to light, it was forced to conclude that the police and the administration were complicit in facilitating the attack and abetting the right-wing in carrying it out.

The NAPM demands that –

1. JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar and the Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar take moral responsibility for their failure to guarantee the safety of their students and faculty and resign immediately.

2. We also demand that independent judicial enquiry is conducted to ascertain the people behind this dastardly act and due punishment is given to them.

3. Prompt medical aid and assistance and security is provided to those injured.

4. Strict action be taken against the police officials who have engaged in the manhandling of the senior activists at the JNU gate in the aftermath of the violence and failed to ensure peace and security.

5. Lastly, given complete breakdown of the law and order in Delhi, continued violence in and around Delhi, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and Home Minister Amit Shah must resign for their failure in protecting rights of the people.

NAPM also states that it stands by the struggle of the JNUSU in demanding the rollback of the fee hike and feel heartened by the unprecedented support and solidarity which has poured in from various campuses and corners of the country.

The entire statement by the NAPM may be read here.

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