After an attack against the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) took place, students across India carried out a protest and demanded action against the assailants who brutally beat up the JNU students and faculty members.
On the 5th of January, a few masked assailants entered the JNU campus with rods, lathis and hammers and attacked the students and faculty members. Approximately 40 students and Aishe Ghosh, the President of the JNU Student Union, were injured.
Hours after the attack, students of Jadavpur University and many other educational institutions across India gathered in their respective cities, shouting slogans against the attack and demanding action.
Though the assailants are yet to be identified, students and opposition parties blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s student union, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP,) for the attack.
The Jamia Teachers Association (JTA) condemned the attack and said, “The JTA unequivocally condemns the violence unleashed on the students and teachers of JNU by armed goons. The violence that has gone on now for two days and continued unabated for several hours today is a brazen attempt by the administration to terrorise the students and teachers who have bravely put up an unwavering fight to defend the university. It is sad to know that JNU was sealed even as goons ransacked the campus with an intention to kill students and teachers.”
On the 5th of January, JNU released a statement regarding the gruesome attack by the masked assailants backed by the RSS linked ABVP.
Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India, as well as the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry condemned the attack and ordered the Commissioner of Police (CP) to conduct an enquiry against it.
Meanwhile, HRD officials are expected to visit the JNU campus on the 6th of January and meet the administrative authorities there.
An eyewitness said, “We reached the JNU main gate at around 8:30 P.M. The street across Ber Sarai Children Park leading to the JNU Main Gate was completely dark. We saw that all the street lights had been switched off only on that road. Along with the police, at least about a hundred goons were present at the main gate. The unidentified people were chanting slogans calling JNU a ‘Naxal University,’ ‘Golli maaron saalon ko.’ The police force stood there doing absolutely nothing.” Another eyewitness said, “This is a terrorist university and we have come to ensure that it is closed down. Yogendra Yadav, surrounded by cameras and goons, was trying to request guards to allow him to meet the teachers in the university and was pushed around. While Yadav was speaking to media, goons were being escorted out of the JNU main gate, with some people saying, “Ye apna aadmi hai, BJP ka banda hai nikalo isko, aur kitne reh gaye andar, nikalne bolo, media aa rahi hai (he is our guy, he is a BJP person, help him to escape, media people are gathering).””
Political leaders like Priyanka Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mayawati and Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS, blaming them for the attack.
#JNUattack proves-:
1. Attack on JNU campus was premeditated.
2. Attack had support of JNU administration.
3. Goons belonged to BJP.
4. Delhi police was a mute spectator as studentrs/teachers were beaten.Can this happen without tacit support of HM?https://t.co/qRfyNwOWTP
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 6, 2020
It should not be tough for Delhi Police to identify the masked attackers with the help of Narendra Modi. He should be able to identify the rioters by their clothes.#JNUattack
— Nirmala Tai (@Vishj05) January 6, 2020
people and supporters may forget but Twitter never forget old tweets… #JNUattack https://t.co/8CUWbZ4H61
— Sahil Joshi (@sahiljoshii) January 6, 2020
A #JNU teacher who was speaking to the media is heckled and interrupted by ABVP, BJP & RSS goons outside JNU main gate with “Desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maro salo ko” slogans.
Sickening how teachers are openly being insulted.#JNUattack #ResignAmitShah#अखिल_भारतीय_गुंडा_परिषद pic.twitter.com/fbZXOzgX7u
— Sanjay Meena (@SanjayUkroond) January 6, 2020
Oxford university students protesting against #JNUattack. pic.twitter.com/NIc8DLjhfb
— Samir Abbas (@TheSamirAbbas) January 6, 2020
Anand Mohan, the Joint Commissioner of Delhi, said the situation was in control late on the 5th of January and the injured JNU students were rushed to a hospital for treatment. While many suffered minor injuries, 12 of them, including Aishe Ghosh, are said to be in critical condition.
Heavy security was deployed at the JNU campus in the wake of yesterday’s protests. The JNUSA and the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) are going to address a press conference on the afternoon of the 6th of January.
Stay tuned for further updates.
