Lawyers clash with protesters in India over student’s arrest

Anti-India slogans were allegedly raised at an event at JNU on February 9 after which its students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested in a sedition case.

“I have told the government counsel to tell the Supreme Court that Kanhaiya before appearing in the Patiala House Court has made the appeal. Only 25 reporters can stand outside”, the apex court said.

Amid the raging row at Jawaharlal Nehru University, its Vice Chancellor, M Jagadesh Kumar on Wednesday appealed to “all” political parties against “interfering” in the matter and said the varsity is capable of dealing with such issues internally.

Lawyers again allegedly attacked a journalist at Delhi’s Patiala House court premises on Wednesday, a mere two days after mediapersons were beaten by them at the same venue. The bench noted the submission of Sinha that on instructions he has spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, who has personally assured the safety of the accused and all others who were permitted to attend today’s proceedings before the trial court pursuant to the order passed in the morning. We have identified the ring leaders and a search is on to find them.

A petition was filed by N.D. Jaiprakash, a JNU alumnus who was hurt during the Monday violence, against the people involved in the violence, as well as against the police for “inaction”, CNN-IBN, a local network, reported. “Media has an unhindered right to report; Attack on media persons is highly improper and condemnable”, the Information & Broadcasting Minister said in a tweet.

Police sources told AFP raids were taking place on premises in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, where separatist violence has simmered for decades. Several journalists also wrote about the violence they faced on Monday, while counter protests began outside the gates of the JNU campus – accusing students of trying to divide India by supporting the former ruling party, Indian National Congress, and communist political parties. Guru always denied plotting the attack, which was carried out by Kashmiri militants.

Late on Tuesday, students at Jadavpur University in eastern Kolkata carried out a protest march on the streets, raising anti-India slogans.