Delhi Police begins probe into JNU violence

New Delhi: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has begun a probe into Sunday’s violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after the Union Home Ministry on Monday asked for a detailed report from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

Delhi Police Crime Branch has formed nine teams to ascertain the perpetrators behind the attack.

According to sources in Delhi Police, the crime branch has taken all the CCTV footage under its custody as it begins its investigation. This was confirmed by the a top Delhi police officer, who did not wish to be named.

“We have seen the FIR filed in Vasant Kunj police station. Nobody has been named in the FIR. Names will be added later as per the investigation,” the source said.

The police is seeking answers to the big questions — Who were the attackers? Were they outsiders or from within the campus? As the attackers were wearing masks how could they get into the campus if they were from nearby areas such as Kishangarh and Humayunpur?

The crime branch has also come to know that the district police PCR vans were deployed in the area long before the mob attack took place on Sunday evening.

The police is also investigating if the JNU administration dilly dallied in calling the police.

According to a source in Crime Branch, “All the gates of the JNU are manned by security personnel. No outsider can get into the campus without permission. Then how armed masked men got into the campus — is also a big question we are investigating.”

“CCTV footage will greatly help to identify the goons even though their faces were covered with masks. The police can get the sketches made on the basis of their body forms, dresses, etc... The police has already identified one assailant, a girl, who was seen in the CCTV footage earlier in the day, and was also present in the campus, masked, during the violence,” said a source.

According to a top Delhi Police officer, “The police is also investigating how the lights went off in the campus during the mob attack. Was it cut by the electricity department? Or was there a conspiracy behind it? If the power was cut by the attackers, the police will have a tough time until the real culprit is caught.”

According to reports, 50-odd goons entered the JNU campus around 6.30pm on Sunday and beat up students and professors, leaving at least 37 injured.

The scale of the attack was so intense that according to a DCP-level officer, “more than 100 calls were made to the police control room on Sunday evening, in which people begged for their life as the attackers went on the rampage.”

Situation normal

A day after violence broke out on the campus, the situation at the Jawaharlal Nehru University has returned to normality, with students going back to the hostels.

Saket Moon, vice president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) said the students were now calm and composed. He said Students Union President Aishe Ghosh, who was reportedly hit over the eye with an iron rod, has also returned to the campus.

“The situation at the campus is returning to normality. The students are now calm and composed. We will decide on the plan of action soon. As far as I know, Aishe has been discharged and has come back to the campus, she has been asked by the doctors to take rest,” Moon said.

He informed that a meeting with the Ministry of Human Resource Development officials was to take place, “but there was no update on the same”.

The students have started coming back to the hostels.

Meanwhile, JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said the origin of the present situation in the JNU lies in some agitating students turning violent and obstructing the academic activities of a large number of non-protesting students.

“The protesting students damaged the university communication servers to disrupt the winter semester registration. They prevented thousands of students from doing their winter registration. Their intent is clearly aimed at disrupting the functioning of the university. This is simply hooliganism and against the ethos of JNU. No such person will be spared and appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

He appealed to the students to maintain peace.

“The university stands by all the students to facilitate their pursuit of academic activities. We will ensure that their winter semester registration will take place without any hindrance. They need not fear about the process. The top priority of the university is to protect the academic interests of our students,” Kumar said.

On Sunday, several masked individuals thrashed students and teachers inside the campus here with wooden and metal rods. A number of students were admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with severe injuries.

The leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the attack on the students.

The wardens of the Sabarmati Hostel have submitted their resignations to the Dean of the students for not being able to provide security to the students.