JNU signals JNUSU hand in violence, to file complaint

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 5

The JNU administration today signalled JNU Student Union’s hand in the violence on its premises stopping short of naming the union in its statement and said a police complaint was being filed to book the perpetrators.

The registrar said at 4.30 pm today, students against the semester registration process moved aggressively from the administrative block, reached hostels and beat up students who wanted to register themselves.

“The administration contacted the police to maintain law and order. However, by the time the police came, students were beaten up by the group of agitating students opposing the registration. Some masked miscreants entered Periyar hostel rooms and attacked students with sticks and rods. In the past couple of weeks agitating students have vandalised the administration block and ransacked the Vice Chancellor’s office for which a few police complaints were filed. It is unfortunate that a group of students with its violent means of protests are preventing thousands of non-agitating students from pursuing academic activities.”

The JNUSU, leading an agitation for nearly two months against the hostel fee hike, had given a call to boycott exams and the semester registration process. JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh was, however, herself injured in today’s violence.

Mamalida Jagadesh Kumar, VC, expressed “pain and anguish for students who sustained injuries”.

The registrar said when students who had registered in the winter semester wanted to enter their schoolbuildings,” agitating students physically prevented them from doing so. “JNU is known for peaceful and democratic protests. The administration will not tolerate any form of violence on the campus. A police complaint is being filed to bring the culprits to book,” he said.