Violence broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police which conducted a flag march.
At least 28 people, including JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.
A video of a bleeding Ms. Ghosh was posted on Twitter while the JNUSU claimed in a statement that a large number of ABVP activists had entered the campuswith iron rods and told to “single out” students’ representatives.
Here are the updates:
Actors, filmmakers condemn violence at JNU
Bollywood actors Swara Bhasker, Shabana Azmi, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub and Taapsee Pannu, and filmmakers Aparna Sen and Hansal Mehta on Sunday condemned the violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University and urged Delhi Police to intervene.
The Left-controlled JNUSU and the RSS-affiliated ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours. Several disturbing videos that show masked people carrying sticks and bats have gone viral on social media.
Swara, whose mother Ira Bhaskar is a professor at the JNU, took to Twitter to appeal to the people on social media to reach the campus “to pressure the government and Delhi Police” to control the violence.
Commenting on Swara’s video, Azmi said she was shocked by the violence and called for immediate action against the perpetrators.
“Is this really happening ? I'm not in India and it all seems like a nightmare. 20 Students Admitted To AIIMS As Violence Breaks Out In JNU. Students and Teachers beaten. Reprehensible, Appalling Condemnable. Immediate action must be taken against the perpetrators,” she tweeted.
Jadavpur University students take out protest rally
Arts Faculty Students Union (AFSU) of Jadavpur University on Sunday took out a protest rally against the attack on female students and a teacher in JNU, students’ body leader Somasree Choudhury said.
Over 300 students participated in the rally.
The Students Federation of India (SFI) on Sunday said it will take out rallies here on Monday against the “barbaric attack” on JNU students.
The rallies will be organised in Jadavpur University and Presidency University, said leaders of the SFI, the student’s wing of the CPI(M).
Students will take out a protest rally within the campus against the “fascist” attack, said Jadavpur University leader of SFI Debraj Debnath said.
“We will also decide if protests will be held outside the campus and our future course of action against the ABVP and saffron forces,” he said.
An SFI leader of Presidency University said students will gather at the varsity’s portico on Monday and take out a protest rally.
“We will intensify our movement against the BJP and the ABVP and give a call for their boycott,” he said.
The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association and the All Bengal University Teachers’ Association also issued statements condemning the attack on JNU students.
- PTI
Delhi Police holds meeting with students, teachers
Delhi Police PRO M S Randhawa held a meeting with a delegation of students and teachers after violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here, officials said on Monday. The delegation comprising students and teachers from JNU, Jamia and Delhi University submitted an application to the Delhi Police PRO with four demands, including urgent medical assistance to injured students and arrest of the accused behind the violence.
“The police have assured us that they will look into the matter and our demands,” president Federation of Central University teachers’ associations Rajib Ray said.
The students demanded that police leave the JNU campus — PTI
Police nab four outsiders fleeing JNU violence scene
Four outsiders were nabbed from the JNU’s North Gate in connection with the violence. The four, caught while fleeing the campus, were taken to Vasant Kunj police station for interrogation. Meanwhile, police are awaiting medico-legal reports of those injured in the violence — IANS
Candlelight vigil in Mumbai
A candlelight vigil is held near Gateway of India in Mumbai late on January 5, 2020 in solidarity with the Delhi’s JNU students attacked inside their campus earlier in evening.
Responding to a call to peacefully protest at Gateway of India at 12 a.m. on January 6 — a small gathering of Mumbaikars held a candlelight vigil against the attack on JNU staffers and students on January 5. The tiny group, soon swelled to about 300 people, some with candles, all with their mobile phones — and with their voices joint in protest. At first the meeting was completely silent but the group mostly made up of young people soon started singing and recited poetry in solidarity with the JNU students and staffers. Several attendees requested everyone present to not to talk to the media — as this was a protest meeting for JNU. Several young people shared poems, all in peace. Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem, Hum Dekhenge was sung. The meeting was still going on until even at 1 a.m. Former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid and stand-up comedian Kunal Kumra were spotted among the crowd. — Gauri Vij
Former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid attends a silent demonstration near Gateway of India in Mumbai early on January 6, 2020 to protest the the previous evening’s attack on JNU students.
FTII students protest JNU attack
Students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune staged a protest condemning the attack on students of Jawaharlal Nehru University.
They held a demonstration outside the gate of the premier film institute, holding banners with message “FTII stands with JNU, condemns the violence of ABVP Goons”.
Students gather outside the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune late on January 5, 2020 to protest the attack in the JNU campus.
Stalin, Aaditya Thackeray condemn attack
DMK president M.K. Stalin has condemned the violence on the JNU campus and sought action against the culprits. Mr. Stalin took to Twitter to condemn what he called violence in the aftermath of the protests against the contentious citizenship law.
“Shocked to see visuals of masked miscreants attacking JNU students inside the campus,” Mr. Stalin said.
“DMK condemns rising incidents of violence against students within universities in the aftermath of #CAA2019. All those who are responsible for these incidents must brought to book immediately,” he added.
Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray too condemned the attack.
Mr. Thackeray demanded stern action against the “goons” who attacked them.
“The violence and brutality faced by students, while protesting, is worrisome. Be it Jamia, be it JNU. Students mustn’t face brutal force! Let them be!,” he tweeted.
“These goons must face action. They must be brought to time-bound and swift justice,” he further said.
Fresh statement from JNU
“Violators of university rules who are trying to disrupt peaceful academic atmosphere of campus will not be spared,” the JNU said in a fresh statement. “A police complaint is being filed to bring culprits to book.”
Full text of the press note issued by the JNU registrar:
It is unfortunate that violence took place in JNU campus this evening. The JNU administration strongly condemns any form of violence in the campus.
From 1 January 2020, the Winter semester registration was going on smoothly. However, on 3rd January, a group of students opposing the registration process entered the Communication and Information Services (CIS) premises, covering their faces with masks and forcibly evicted the technical staff and made the servers disfunctional. This led to the discontinuation of the registration process on 3rd January. A police complaint was filed immediately identifying the students. However, on 4th January morning, the technical staff again made the CIS functional. Immediately, thousands of students started registering by paying the new hostel room rent. A group of students who are bent upong stopping the registration process, again entered the CIS premises with a criminal intent to make the servers disfunctional. They damaged the power supplies, broke the optical fibres and made the servers disfunctional again on 4th January around 1 p.m. disrupting the registration process. A police complaint was again filed against the miscreants.
For the past few days, the group of agitating students also closed the buildings of some Schools preventing the non agitating students, staff and the faculty members. On 5th January, when the students who have registered in the winter semester wanted to enter these school buildings, they were physically prevented by the agitating students. Since the 5th January afternoon, the campus has witnessed scuffles at the Schools as well as inside the hostel premises between the groups of students who wanted to stop the registration and those who wanted to register and continue their studies.
Around 4.30 p.m., a group of students, who are against the registration process moved aggressively from the front of the admin block and reached the hostels. The administration immediately contacted the Police to come quickly and maintain law and order on the campus. However, by the time police came, the students who are for the registration were beaten up by a group of agitating students opposing the registration.
Some masked miscreants also entered the Periyar hostel rooms and attacked the students with sticks and rods. Some of the security guards doing duties at these places were also badly injured.
During the last couple of weeks, these agitating students also vandalised the admin block and ransacked the office of the Vice-Chancellor for which a few police complaints were filed.
It is unfortunate that a group of students with their violent means of protests are preventing thousands of non-agitating students from pursuing their academic activities. The JNU administration stands by every student who wants to continue their academic programs peacefully in 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 violaters of University rules who are trying to distrupt 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.
Protest break out in AMU
Protests were held at the Aligarh Muslim University against the violence at the JNU campus. A spokesperson of protesting students said that a march was held in the night to express solidarity with the students of the JNU. In a statement, the AMU Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) condemned the violence. AMUTA secretary Najmul Islam urged the Chief Justice of India to take suo motu cognisance of the “unprecedented situation arising from Sunday’s assault on JNU students and teachers”.
Protests at Delhi Police HQ
Protests are also happening at Delhi Police headquarters. Hundreds of students from different universities in the national capital staged a protest outside the old Delhi Police headquarters at ITO. Students from the JNU were joined by those from Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia. The protesters raised slogans and demanded that police leave the JNU campus.
Violence on innocent students proof of their insecurity: Jignesh Mevani
Jignesh Mevani tweets: “By attacking the students & professors of JNU, the government and Delhi Police are attacking the voices, future, intellect and growth of a democracy. Violence on innocent students is proof of their insecurity. India is watching & you’re nearing your end, BJP!”
Desperate attempt by forces of anarchy: BJP
Tweet from the BJP’s official handle @BJP4India: “We strongly condemn the violence on JNU campus. This is a desperate attempt by forces of anarchy, who are determined to use students as cannon fodder, create unrest to shore up their shrinking political footprint. Universities should remain places of learning and education.”
Priyanka Gandhi at AIIMS to meet the injured
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has reached All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to meet injured JNU students.
“It’s deeply sickening about a government that allows violence inflicted on their own children,” Ms. Vadra says. “Many wounded students at AIIMS have broken limbs and injuries on their heads.”
25 of our members seriously injured, 11 missing: ABVP
The ABVP alleged that its members, including its JNU unit secretary, were attacked by members of the Left-backed students’ outfits and 11 of the RSS-affiliated outfit’s members were missing.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad alleged that its members were “brutally” attacked by students affiliated to Left student organisations SFI, AISA and the DSF. “Around 25 students have been seriously injured in this attack and there is no information as to the whereabouts of 11 students,” the outfit said. “Masked goons of Left entered the Jawaharlal Nehru University today and beat up the students who went for registration.”
“The JNU students affiliated to ABVP were brutally attacked,” it said.
According to the ABVP, its JNU unit secretary and its 2019 JNUSU presidential candidate, Manish Jangid, was “severely injured (his hand is fractured). Many students have suffered head injuries and a few students are still missing“. — PTI
Govt wants universities to be safe spaces: Nirmala
“Horrifying images from JNU — the place I know & remember was one for fierce debates & opinions but never violence. I unequivocally condemn the events of today. This govt, regardless of what has been said the past few weeks, wants universities to be safe spaces for all students,” Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has tweeted.
Swara Bhasker appeals for help
Swara, whose mother Ira Bhaskar is a professor at the JNU, took to Twitter to appeal to the people on social media to reach the campus “to pressure the government and Delhi Police” to control the violence. She added that she was concerned about her parents’ safety who live at the campus.
“Urgent appeal!!!! To all Delhiites PLS gather in large numbers outside the Main Gate of JNU campus on Baba Gangnath Marg.. to pressure the govt. & #DelhiPolice to stop the rampage by alleged ABVP masked goons on JNU campus,” the actor captioned the video.
Amit Shah speaks to Delhi Police chief
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to the Delhi Commissioner of Police and enquired about the incident.
“Union Home Minister has spoken to Delhi Police Commissioner over JNU violence and instructed him to take necessary action. Hon’ble minister has also ordered an enquiry to be carried out by a Joint CP level officer and asked for a report to be submitted as soon as possible,” the Home Minister’s office tweeted.
Delhi Police conduct flag march
“Two groups of students clashed inside the JNU campus. Police was informed. We conducted a flag march inside the campus. The situation is under control. The injured are moved to AIIMS,” says Anand Mohan, Joint CP (Delhi Police).
Ministers react:
West bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee: “We strongly condemn brutality unleashed against students/teachers in JNU. No words enough to describe such heinous acts. A shame on our democracy. Trinamool delegation led by Dinesh Trivedi (Sajda Ahmed, Manas Bhunia, Vivek Gupta) headed to Delhi to show solidarity with #ShaheenBagh #JNU.”
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said: “Masked men attacking teachers and students in JNU shows the low to which the government will stoop in order to rule through fear. The BJP is using violence and hate to polarise society and stifle dissent. The ABVP are acting like the storm troopers of the BJP.”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar: “Have seen pictures of what is happening in #JNU . Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university.”
Doctors attacked near JNU campus entrance
A group of nine doctors from AIIMS and other hospitals were attacked by a violent mob outside JNU main entrance gate.
The doctors, who had come in an ambulance with medical supplies to help the injured students inside the JNU campus, were not allowed to enter the campus.
“About 100 goondas in mask yielding lathis and stone attacked our ambulance when we tried to enter the campus,” said Dr. Praveen, a general surgeon at Maharishi Valmiki Hospital.
“The police remain a mute spectator while our ambulance was being surrounded and attacked by the mob,” another doctor in the group said.
“The mob broke the window of the ambulance and even tried to drag and pull one of the doctors out of the ambulance's window,” said Dr. Praveen pointing towards the face of the doctor who had received injuries.
A visibly rattled lady doctor in the group said, “The goons were wearing mask and helmets. I could smell that they were drunk. They even tried to take our mobile phones as we were taking videos.”
“There is no safety even for ambulance and doctors,” another doctor in the group said.
After some policemen intervened, the mob which had held the ambulance outside the JNU campus gate for about half-an-hour were allowed to leave.
—reports Rocky Soibam
Have asked for an immediate report: HRD Ministry
HRD Ministry has asked for an immediate detailed report on the JNU situation from the University registrar. I am also speaking to the vice chancellor. Definitely, it is a serious matter: HRD secretary Amit Khare to The Hindu .
Rahul Gandhi condemns attack
Rahul Gandhi tweets: “The brutal attack on JNU students & teachers by masked thugs, that has left many seriously injured, is shocking. The fascists in control of our nation, are afraid of the voices of our brave students. Today’s violence in JNU is a reflection of that fear.”
‘15 students admitted in AIIMS, two in serious condition”
JNUSU has retweeted this post by @DrHarjitBhatti, whose profile says he is ex-President, RDA, AIIMS, New Delhi and national president, Progressive Medicos & Scientists Forum: “I am at AIIMS, Trauma Centre, 15 students of JNU got admitted here with severe head injuries inflicted through sharp weapons & rods. 2 of the student are in serious condition including JNU SU President and are shifted to red area, all the students were brutally beaten."
Yogendra Yadav attacked outside the JNU North Gate
Yogendra Yadav has been attacked outside the JNU North Gate. Police are escorting Mr. Yadav.
Delhi Police enter campus on university request
Delhi Police now say they have entered the JNU campus on the request of the university administration. The varsity administration called police to restore law and order in the campus, they said.
JNU retracts statement
The JNU administration has now retracted its “Masked miscreants armed with sticks are roaming around, damaging property and attacking people” statement. Says it will issue a fresh one. In the statement they said police was called to maintain order. But the Delhi Police say they were not called in.
Masked persons inside the JNU campus in New Delhi on January 5, 2020. Photo: Special Arrangement
Delhi Police say they will act after getting complaint
Baba Gang Nath Marg, the road leading to JNU main entrance gate, is blocked by Delhi Police. “We have not been called inside the campus. But police are deployed outside. We will take the action after getting complaint,” says a senior officer who is present at the JNU main gate.
Goons have gone inside with police protection: Yogendra Yadav
Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav says those raising slogans while he is speaking to the media are the same people who are attacking JNU students inside the campus. “Goons have gone inside the campus with police protection,” Mr. Yadav says.
Shocking and horrifying: Chidambaram
"What we are seeing on live TV is shocking and horrifying. Masked men enter JNU hostels and attack students. What is the Police doing? Where is the Police Commissioner? If it is happening on live TV, it is an act of impunity and can only happen with the support of the government. This is beyond belief," said a statement from P. Chidamabaram on the attack.
JNU statement
The Registrar of the JNU has issued this statement:
This is an urgent message for the entire JNU Community that there is a law and order situation in the JNU Campus. Masked miscreants armed with sticks are roaming around, damaging property and attacking people.
The JNU Administration has called the police to maintain order.
This is the moment to remain calm and be on the alert. In view of the largeness of the campus, number 100 can also be dialled.
Efforts are already being made to tackle the miscreants.
Crowd shouts Bharat Mata Ki Jai outside a closed gate of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi on January 5, 2020.
A crowd has gathered outside the JNU gate and are shouting Bharath Mata Ki Jai and Vande Matram. They are stopping people from taking videos and pictures, reports our correspondent Sidharth Ravi. Shortly after this update, Mr. Ravi reported that he was surrounded by masked men in support of ABVP and told to leave the area after he showed his press credentials.
Students attacked brutally: Kejriwal
"I am so shocked to know abt the violence at JNU. Students attacked brutally. Police shud immediately stop violence and restore peace. How will the country progress if our students will not be safe inside univ campus?" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted. According CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, the attack in JNU was a planned attack by those in power.
ABVP statement
"Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad members have been brutally attacked by students affiliated to leftist student organizations SFI, AISA and DSF. Around 25 students have been seriously injured in this attack and there is no information as to the whereabouts of 11 students. Many ABVP members are being attacked in hostels and the hostels are being vandalized by the leftist goons," said an ABVP statement.
ABVP activists attack students
A video of a bleeding Ms. Ghosh was posted on Twitter while the JNUSU claimed in a statement that a large number of ABVP activists had entered the campus with iron rods and told to “single out” students’ representatives.
Photo of attacked Sabarmati Hostel at Jawaharlal Nehru University shared by JNUSU Twitter handle on January 5, 2020
Several teachers confirmed that ABVP activists had entered the campus and were reportedly attacking students.
“Female students have locked themselves up inside the girls’ wing in Sabarmati Hostel. These attackers are roaming the corridors armed with rods and sticks…we are under attack,” the JNUSU twitter handle said.
“Professors who were trying to protect us have been beaten up. These are unknown ABVP goons, not all are students, they have covered their faces, and are moving towards the…West Gate. Stay alert. Make human chains. Protect each other,” another tweet from the Union added.
Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Sucharita Sen being treated for head injuries she sustained during an attack inside the university campus on January 5, 2020. Photo: Twitter/@JNUSUOfficial
Ayesha Kidwai, a professor teaching at JNU, told The Hindu that one of her colleagues, Sucharita Sen, had been beaten up and suffered head injuries. “She is being treated at the trauma centre,” Dr. Kidwai said.
ABVP goons had gone into the hostels and also smashed cars belonging to teachers, she stated. “The JNU security staff did nothing. The police are now on the campus, but there are several entry points into JNU,” Dr. Kidwai added.
