Our Correspondent / AMN
New Delhi: Delhi Police today arrested JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy over holding of an event at the university against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Kanhaiya Kumar has been remanded to a three day police custody by a Delhi court.
The case was registered yesterday under Section of 124 A (sedition) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC against unknown persons at Vasant Kunj (North) Police station following complaints by BJP MP Maheish Girri and ABVP.
“Kanhaiya Kumar has been arrested in connection with the case,” a senior police official said.
A group of students on Tuesday held an event on the JNU campus and allegedly shouted slogans against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in 2013.
The event occurred despite varsity administration having cancelled the permission following a co
mplaint by ABVP members, who termed the activity as “anti-national”.
The Delhi Police also searched for more students in the University in connection with the case. Meanwhile, JNU Teachers Association termed the police action as excessive and uncalled for. The association demanded immediate release of all the detainees by the police.
In a related development, Jawahar Lal Nehru University has set up a high level committee to investigate the matter and an appropriate action. In a statement, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor M Jagdesh Kumar condemned the use of University as a platform for activities that violate the Constitution and the laws of the land.
Mr Kumar said the problem will be appropriately addressed to and the University will take steps to protect the academic atmosphere. He also appealed to all sections of the University including representatives of students, teachers and Karamcharis to go beyond the incident and restore normalcy.
The JNU administration has already instituted a “disciplinary” enquiry as to how the event took place despite withdrawal of permission and said it will wait for the probe report before taking any furthe
r action.
Earlier in the day, talking tough, Home Minister Rajnath Singh warned of ‘strongest possible’ action against those involved in raising anti-India slogans at an event in JNU campus, saying such activities will not be tolerated.
Rajnath Singh said, “When someone is in the country and raises anti-national statements, raising questions on India’s unity, diversity and sovereignty then they won’t be forgiven. What happened in JNU was unfortunate and for that, I have already given the necessary instructions to the Delhi Police Commissioner.”