Ruckus in JNU, students attacked by masked intruders

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday evening after masked men, armed with iron rods and batons, attacked students who have been protesting against hostel fee hike, Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

JNU students’ union president Aishe Ghosh and several other students sustained injuries in the incident. The unidentified men who entered the university hostels, including those of girls, created havoc by chasing and assaulting the activists of Left-backed students’ groups. They also attacked teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.

Students accused the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists of carrying out the attack with the help of “men brought from outside”. They also accused university Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar of giving “ABVP goons a free hand” against the students who were agitating for two months.

The JNU campus has witnessed scuffles between ABVP activists and those of Left-backed students’ unions since Saturday over the ongoing strike against hostel fee hike and other issues.

Ghosh and other injured students were rushed to hospital. Ghosh sustained a head injury and has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS).

The JNU administration called the police to control law and order situation on the campus.

“This is an urgent message for the entire JNU community that there is a law and order situation in the campus. Masked miscreants armed with sticks are roaming around, damaging property and attacking people,” the JNU registrar said in a statement. He urged the community to “remain calm and be on the alert”, suggesting them to dial 100 and call the police in case of any threat.

Opposition parties alleged that the attack was "state-sponsored mayhem".

"The fascists in control of our nation, are afraid of the voices of our brave students. Today’s violence in JNU is a reflection of that fear," former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said police should restore peace. "How will the country progress if our students are not safe inside campus?"