Police want JNU to track Kanhaiya's movements

Aim is to provide security to student leader

The Delhi Police on Saturday asked Jawaharlal Nehru University to keep a track of JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar’s movements outside the campus so that they can ensure his security.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Prem Nath wrote a letter to JNU vice chancellor Jagadesh Kumar on a day when posters appeared in the city offering Rs 11 lakh to anybody who shoots dead the student leader who was recently released on bail in a controversial sedition case. The police have filed a case over the posters apparently put up by Adarsh Sharma, president of little-known Purvanchal Sena. The posters offering the reward were seen outside Metro stations and bus stands in central Delhi.

In the letter, Nath wrote that the SHO of Vasant Kunj (North) police station should be informed well in time about “the movements and visits of Kumar outside the campus”. Kumar was last month arrested and released on bail on Thursday in connection with “anti-national” slogans raised on the campus on February 9.

Travel mode under lens

The police will also want information on the nature of visit and the travel mode. “It is for necessary security and preventive measures to prevent any untoward incident,” Nath said. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had on Friday indicated that Kanhaiya Kumar may campaign for the Left in the coming state elections.

The Delhi High Court has told the police to make sure that Kumar and other JNU students do not suffer “even a scratch”. During a hearing last month, Kumar had sustained minor injuries after being attacked by lawyers. On Saturday, Purvanchal Sena president Adarsh Sharma told Deccan Herald that they have put up at least 1,500 posters in the city. The police said they have seen over 100 posters in central Delhi. Sharma also claims to live 10 kilometres away from Kumar’s house in Bihar’s Begusarai district. 

“Whoever shoots JNUSU president and traitor Kanhaiya Kumar will be rewarded Rs 11 lakh by the Purvanchal Sena,” the poster read.  Sharma added that he wants quick justice instead of seeing Kumar drag the case in courts for years. “Kanhaiya Kumar insulted our country by raising anti-national slogans. I have full faith on the courts, but it takes a long time for judgment.

The Sena wants to see him dead as a traitor, not a hero as portrayed by the media,” Sharma added. Taking note of this, a case under Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act was registered with Parliament Street police station on Saturday. “Action will be taken against persons who have put up such posters,” said a police officer.