The Patiala House courts here on Monday witnessed violence as a mob, wearing lawyer’s robe, slapped and kicked supporters of JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar.
The attacks began when Mr. Kumar was scheduled to appear before metropolitan magistrate Loveleen and continued for about 45 minutes during which whoever ran into the mob looking young and carrying a mobile was slapped, kicked and chased away from the premises.
Journalists and students bore the brunt of the violence, while the older men and women were intimidated by the mob. They were seen asking the police to ease out reporters and Mr. Kumar’s supporters. First, the mob charged the atmosphere by shouting ‘Pakistan Murdabad, Bharat Mata ki Jai’. The first victim was a clerk of a lawyer whom they beat up. He escaped, thanks to the intervention of a group of lawyers. Later, the rabble was seen marching around the court premises to thrash any dissenting voices.
This reporter was an eyewitness to the slapping and kicking of two print journalists when they were rushing towards the courtroom to cover the case.
