New Delhi, India/Islamabad, Pakistan: On Sunday night January 5 , 2020, unprecedented violence erupted at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Delhi India when student group of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) attacked students who have been protesting against introduction of CAA-NRC.
According to eyewitnesses, ABVP in police presence was moving around with lathis, rods, hammers with their faces under masks. They were pelting bricks, climbing over walls and getting into hostels and beating up students. Several teachers and students had also been beaten up.
JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh had been brutally attacked and her head is bleeding very badly. Students were trying to save themselves while being chased by ABVP supporters while the police was complicit in their crimes.
Former Minister of External Affairs Yashwant Sinha condemned attack JNU students and teachers.
Condemn strongly the dastardly attack JNU students and teachers by masked men from outside under police protection. Where are we heading?
— Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) January 5, 2020
Actress Swara Bhaskar who is former student of Jawaharlal Nehru University demanded help to save students in her twitter message while crying over the situation.
Actor Swara Bhaskar appeals to people in Delhi to assemble at main gate of JNU and ask police to act#JNU #JNUViolence #JNUattack pic.twitter.com/kdqt0gAsZr
— NDTV (@ndtv) January 5, 2020
Anand Gopal Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra Group of Industries also issued a strong-worded statement to express his concerns over situation in JNU
It doesn’t matter what your politics are. It doesn’t matter what your ideology is. It doesn’t matter what your faith is. If you’re an Indian, you cannot tolerate armed, lawless goons. Those who invaded JNU tonight must be traced & hunted down swiftly & given no quarter…
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) January 5, 2020
There was an appeal from students and their families in social media platforms which stated:
“JNU is being attacked by Right Wing goons in cahoots with the security group Cyclops and the police are not responding. Currently hostels like Sabarmati and Periyar under attack. Anyone in Delhi who can help IN ANY WAY (refuge for students/legal help/connection to police) PLEASE NOTICE! Request to share.
People in Delhi, please assemble at JNU Main Gate at 9 PM. AVOID NORTH GATE as masked Bajrang Dal & ABVP goons have assembled there with lathis. Students & faculty have been beaten up. They are bleeding and being hospitalized. Lawyers, doctors needed.
Chief Minister of Arvind Kejriwal was shocked over the situation and alleed role of Police for supporting attackers. He in his message said that he was shocked to know about the violence at JNU. He directed Police to behave and stop the violence immediately and restore peace.
Spoke to Hon’ble LG and urged him to direct police to restore order. He has assured that he is closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps https://t.co/gpRGCCbwGF
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 5, 2020
Anjali Bhardwaj who is an Indian social activist went to JNU to see the situation but could not in because of situation and sent a twitter message stating that things are (were) very tense and all street lights for 1 km switched off.
I’m outside JNU gate. Things are very tense here. All street lights for 1 km switched off. Crowd shouting desh ke gadarron ko goli marron salon ko. They smashed glass on ambulance and didn’t allow them to enter. @DelhiPolice pl have street lights switched on. pic.twitter.com/gukuFC8KK9
— Anjali Bhardwaj (@AnjaliB_) January 5, 2020
This is absolutely shocking on how educated people have started defending acts of violence from the BJP goons.
Never thought my India would be divided. But BJP is successful in doing so. 🙁— SS (@shubh_ind) January 5, 2020
It is an emergency situation we request all media persons, civil society, and medical and legal help immediately. Call Vasant Kunj Police Station and demand accountability from this saffron Police!President of JNU Student Union is in critical condition:
“They’re rampaging the campus. Our president Ayshi Ghosh has been beaten up brutally”, said an eye witness.
“Seeing some very disturbing reports about students and faculty being attacked in JNU”, reported a by-passer.
— shashank sourav (@shashanksourav3) January 5, 2020
A journalist on his social media said:
“As a former student of JNU, it is very disconcerting to see all of this happening. Never imagined anything like this happening. Very unfortunate”.
— shashank sourav (@shashanksourav3) January 5, 2020
This thread!!!!!! What’s happening in JNU???? https://t.co/ShZpi64MC7
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 5, 2020
Horrifying images from JNU — the place I know & remember was one for fierce debates & opinions but never violence. I unequivocally condemn the events of today. This govt, regardless of what has been said the past few weeks, wants universities to be safe spaces for all students.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) January 5, 2020
Am outside JNU. ABVP students shouting ‘ Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko’ calling girl students, ‘lashkar e tayyeba’ ki pilliyaan, beating students while cops are watching. pic.twitter.com/WcvAXCaWsV
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) January 5, 2020
Internationally acclaimed Human Rights and Civil Rights activist Beena Sarwar in her message questioned the role of Police by stating where were they (Police/Administration) when armed goons burst into campus and attacked
Where were they when armed goons burst into campus and attacked #JNU students? #JNUViolence https://t.co/unq4epNZCz
— beena sarwar (@beenasarwar) January 5, 2020
Islamabad Office adds
While talking to DND News Agency from New Delhi, Jadhev Khosla, a student of JNU confirmed that his telephone stop working when he was outside JNU Campus and now working when he reached his home— around 2 KM away from University.
“Yes cell phone jammers are installed. Police installed cell phone jammers after students sent videos of violence on social media platforms”, confirmed Khosla.
