JNU students,cops clash after outsiders molest girl on campus

The students,who refused to allow the police to take away the four youths,had blocked the main gate of the campus and the police had to cordon off the area. The protests were on till the time of going to press.

According to the students,the youths,who were in a white Hyundai Accent,had entered JNU by the main gate around 2.30 pm. While they were inside the campus,security officials received a complaint about them.

“I was walking in the campus at around 3.30 pm when these guys sped past me and made obscene gestures at me,” said Vibha Iyer,PhD student and member of the Progressive Students Union (PSU),“so I walked up to campus security and complained”.

When the men made their way back to the main gate,they were stopped by campus security.

“On being stopped by the securitymen,they threatened the guards and started dropping names. Apparently they also pulled out a gun,but we are not sure about that at the moment,” said Anand Pandey,a PhD student and general secretary of the NSUI. “They were consuming alcohol on the campus. Beer and vodka bottles were recovered from their car.”

The stand-off began once Delhi Police officers arrived on the scene. They took custody of the four men but the students refused to allow them to take the youths off the campus for a medical examination.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Delhi),HGS Dhaliwal who was at the spot,said: “Students gheraoed the police vehicle in which the accused were being held. Three ACPs tried to reason with the students as did the Dean of JNU,but they refused to budge and would not let us take charge of the accused,” Dhaliwal said.

According to Dhaliwal,students demanded to see an FIR in the matter. The police have registered a case under Sections 323 (causing hurt intentionally),452 (trespassing),506 (punishment for criminal intimidation),354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) and 434. “Liquor bottles and other objectionable items were found in the car,” Dhaliwal said.

The officer said the students were shown the FIR and the names of the accused,but they refused to budge.

They wanted a public apology. “Whatever campus this may be,the law of the land still applies to these students. We cannot carry out vigilante justice and have to keep security of the accused in mind as well,” Dhaliwal added.

When Newsline arrived at the scene,the youths sat in a police vehicle,surrounded by armed police officials,inside the campus.

Their Hyundai Accent was battered beyond recognition. The students,who had vented their ire on the car,had also locked the gates.

“We know that as soon as the police take these men,they will be released,” said Akash Rana,one of the students at the forefront of the protest. “They are probably well connected and influential — at least that is what they told the guards. We want the police to reveal the identities of these men to us and give us an assurance that strict action will be taken in this matter that includes registering an FIR.”

Dhaliwal said the lathicharge was carried out in retaliation to aggressive behaviour by the students. “Some students,in connivance with outside elements,started brickbatting the Gypsy in which the accused were being held,” Dhaliwal said. “In retaliation we resorted to mild lathicharge and used teargas.” Two canisters of teargas were used.

The students said the youths were identified as Gagan Kumar,Amit Chauhan,Ankit Nanda and Nitin Kapoor. They alleged that one of the accused is related to a police officer. Dhaliwal,however,refused to comment on it.

JNU authorities,including the dean and the vice-chancellor,refused to comment on the issue.

(Inputs by Neeraj Chauhan,Deepu Sebastian Edmond)

Timeline
2.30 pm:Four men in a white Hyundai Accent enter the campus through the main gate
3 pm:Campus security receives complaints about them — consuming liquor on campus and molesting a student
3.30 pm:Men are stopped by campus security and they threaten the security guards. The students intervene,call the police and bar campus gates
3.30 to 4 pm:Police arrive and arrest the youths. But the students refuse to let them take away the accused
4 to 9.30 pm:Stand-off between students and police
9.30 pm:Police resort to lathicharge and use teargas shells
11 pm:Stand-off still on,accused still on campus in police vehicle