Indian students, teachers protest after nationalist violence

These unions have asked for the release of JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and withdrawal of “false charges” against all the university students.

Groups of students, journalists and teachers gathered for protests in the Indian capital Tuesday after a student union leader’s arrest and subsequent violence by Hindu nationalists.

Indian policemen stand guard outside the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016.

Later, mobs of lawyers and BJP supporters attacked students outside the courthouse where Kumar was to appear. It condemned police for failing to protect them.

“We will also join the students of Hyderabad University who will hold a march on February 23 to parliament to seek justice for Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula”, Singh said. They shouted “JNU, JNU” while pumping fists into the air.

Police claimed he had raised anti-India slogans at an event in the university.

In a related development, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) filed a complaint alleging that phone calls were received at its office late on Sunday threatening to harm General Secretary Sitaram Yechury for his support to the protesting students. Slapping of sedition charge against Kumar could be an act of “over enthusiastic” police officers, officials said.

JNU today sent a “status” report to HRD ministry about the situation in the campus and the action taken by the varsity in connection with an event against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, during which anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.

Kumar’s arrest and his questioning of Afzal Guru’s execution led many people to demand the left-leaning university’s closure, with several public personalities and citizens tweeting against the institution. Guru always denied plotting the attack, which was carried out by Kashmiri militants.

Talking to Rising Kashmir the brother of Muhammad Afzal Guru, Aijaz Ahmad Guru said the Indian youth have realised the “sacrifices” of Afzal Guru and Kashmiris and now they are raising their genuine voice in favour of Kashmir’s “freedom struggle”.

The Supreme Court earlier ordered Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi to ensure security to the accused and limit the number of journalists to be present inside the court room to five.