JNU forms panel over Sunday campus violence

Jan 7, 2020
New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration, here on Tuesday, announced formation of panel to look into the reasons that triggered the Sunday campus violence, leaving many students injured and causing uproar across the nation.

“The university is forming a small security committee to look into the incident,” said JNU Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar while addressing the media.

A report on the incident had been sent to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), he said referring to the campus violence when several masked people, both male and female, thrashed students and teachers with wooden and metal rods.

Requesting “not to politicise” and let the police investigate the incident, the V-C asked students to take part in the online registration process for the winter semester. Around 2,851 students had registered, he added.

Around 50 per cent students had paid their fees and registered, he said and added, the university’s data servers, which was damaged by a group of students, was functional from 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Some students prevented others from registering for the winter semester and it had come to their notice, he added.

Kumar said there was adequate security at the university entrance, but raised concern over some insiders’ role in facilitating entrance of hooligans. On not personally reaching out to students and teachers, the V-C said wardens inquired about students and appropriate help was provided to teachers.

The V-C said the campus had its own security and enough security personnel had been deployed as “we don’t want to spoil the university atmosphere”.

“If there is a law and order situation, we don’t rush to the police. We see if our security can handle. On Sunday, when we felt there was a possibility of aggressive behaviour among students we informed police.

“Our office is always open and we regularly meet teachers and students,” the V-C said and added, the JNU had never been known for violence. The university “does have” CCTVs at main gate and important locations.

On disruption in hostel mess, the V-C said: “We had a meeting with wardens and provosts. We are in touch with hostels. There is no disruption in the mess and they (students) are being provided food. We would like to reach out to students through media.”

“I am 24×7 present on the campus,” the V-C said.

On the Sunday incident, the V-C said some students came wearing masks and asked the data centre employees to come out. “If they think what they are doing is right, why did they need to hide faces,” he said.

On Sabarmati Hostel warden’s resignation, Kumar said, “When a group of students surround and ask you to resign, what will one do? They are still wardens.”