Masked Men Storm JNU, Assault Students

New Delhi: Armed masked miscreants on Sunday barged into Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus here and assaulted students and faculty members, provoking strong condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum.

Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik as the Human Resource and Development Ministry informed in a tweet that ‘police has been called inside the campus to maintain law and order situation’. A probe has been ordered into the incident.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited AIIMS to meet the injured students, even as HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal appealed all to maintain the sanctity of the campus and ensure peace.

According to unconfirmed reports, 25 injured students and teachers have been admitted to AIIMS.

The injured included the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) Aishe Ghosh. A section of the students on the campus blamed right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the attack.

Some report suggested that the Sunday evening attack had a connection with the ongoing protest by students against the hostel fee hike.

“ABVP in police presence is moving around with lathis, rods, hammers with their faces under masks. They are pelting bricks, climbing over walls and getting into hostels and beating up students. Several teachers and students have also been beaten up. JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh has been brutally attacked and her head is bleeding very badly. Students are trying to save themselves while being chased by ABVP goons while the police are complicit in their crimes, it is taking the orders from Sanghi Professors, forcing students to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans!” the students union said in a statement.

Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare will meet the students tomorrow.

Speaking to Odisha Bytes, a JNU student claimed to have seen some ABVP leader beating students with rods on the campus. The website was not able to independently verify his claim.

The students also alleged police inaction, maintaining that they were present inside the campus when the masked miscreants went on the rampage.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee have condemned the alleged police inaction.

Former alumni Yogendra Yadav was allegedly stopped from entering the campus while actor Swara Bhaskar made a passionate appeal to the police in a video message to ensure peace inside the campus.

“The DYFI medical van was attacked by goons wearing helmets and masks, holding rods, outside the JNU main gate as it was trying to head in to provide medical support to injured students,” one of the students told Odisha Bytes. Again his claim could not be independently verified.

A press statement issued by the university at around 11.15 pm said some masked miscreants entered the Periyar hostel rooms and attacked the students with sticks and rods. Some of the on-duty security guards also sustained serious injuries.

The statement also blamed the agitating students for creating “vandalism” on the campus.

“The JNU administration feels great pain and anguish for the students who have sustained injuries in this violence. JNU is always known for peaceful and democratic protests. JNU administration will not tolerate any form of violence on the campus. A police complaint is being filed to bring the culprits to book. The violators of University rules who are trying to disrupt the peaceful academic atmosphere of the campus will not be spared. JNU administration appeals to all the stakeholders of the University to maintain peace in the campus and do not get provoked by any misinformation,” it added.