Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that the government had asked the Delhi police to file FIRs under the SC/ST Act and abetment to suicide — against unknown persons — in relation to the alleged suicide of a Dalit student at Jawaharlal Nehru University. She told the Upper House that she had visited the family of Muthukrishanan Jeevanantham, a resident of Jhelum hostel, who had allegedly hanged himself outside the campus.
“It is true that, within 48 hours, the FIR which was to be filed had not been filed. But, now, after we all sat there and heard everybody’s voice — father, guardian, student leaders and friends of the boy — very clearly directed the police, as per instructions from the hon. Home Minister, that by 12 o’ clock the FIR should be filed and a copy should be given to father, guardian and to any number of students who would want a copy of it,” Ms. Sitharaman said.
She also said that the Home Minister would consider the demand of the student’s father that the deceased’s two sisters – one a nurse and the other a private school teacher – be given jobs. The elaborate statement came in response to Opposition members raising the matter in the Rajya Sabha in Zero Hour.
