Uneasy calm in JNU campus after surrender of two students

After two JNU students surrendered before police in connection with a sedition case, uneasy calm prevailed in the varsity campus today amid confusion whether three more students will adopt the same approach.

The five students -- Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, JNUSU General Secretary Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash -- had gone missing from the campus since February 12 after JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on sedition charges for allegedly raising anti-India slogans during a controversial event at the campus.

While Khalid and Anirban had surrendered before police late last night, the remaining trio maintained that they will not surrender.

"We will not surrender. We have reiterated many times that we have nothing to hide and we are open to questioning as and when police approaches us," Ashutosh said.

The students who have been agitating demanding Kanhaiya's release ever since he was arrested took a break today from the slogan shouting at the varsity's administration block.

While the JNUSU office bearers met today to decide on further strategy, a group of students went to India Gate to participate in a candle light vigil in solidarity with Hyderabad varsity students who are in Delhi demanding justice for Rohith Vemula.

"We have been hoping that Kanhaiya will be granted bail and will join us in protest against this branding of the university as anti-national but unfortunately that has not happened so far," JNUSU vice president Shehla Rashid Shora said.

In the evening, members of ABVP had invited a group of Army veterans to address a gathering who spoke about the difficulties officers of three forces have to face to guard the country and how any "anti-national" activity is a disrespect to them.