LIVE: Deepika visits protesting JNU students; cops ask people to share videos of violence

22:27 January 07

Cong fact-finding committee to visit JNU tomorrow

According to reports, the four member fact finding committee formed by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on JNU violence will visit the JNU campus tomorrow.

20:29 January 07

Deepika Padukone visits JNU students, leaves without addressing crowd

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a violent mob but left without addressing the crowd.

Her decision to not address the crowd prompted JNUSU student leader Aishe Ghosh to comment, "when you are in a position, you should speak up".

The 34-year-old actor is in the capital to promote her upcoming release, Meghna Gulzar-directed "Chhapaak".

A masked mob armed with sticks and rods on Sunday attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, injuring at least 35 people.  

19:33 January 07

Students in Bengaluru hold a candle-light vigil condemning the JNU violence.

19:10 January 07

'Hitler, is that you at Lok Kalyan Marg?': Cong mocks PM

The Congress has attacked the RSS and ruling BJP for the student violence in JNU and in Ahmedabad, saying the Modi government is similar to "Hitler rule". In a series of tweets, the Congress said "Hitler, is that you at Lok Kalyan Marg?" taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who resides at Lok Kalyan Marg, as it compared statements made by BJP leaders with that of the Nazis. The party tweeted "The very ideology of the RSS is inspired by Hitler and the ideas of the Nazis. It comes as no surprise that the present govt is trying to fulfil the vision of their ideological leaders - the RSS. #BJPHitlerRaj"

18:32 January 07

JNUSU demands V-C's removal

The JNU Students Union has called for the immediate removal of Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar and an inquiry into his activities.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, JNUSU alleged that the "saffron nexus" of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and JNU administration stands exposed by the FIR filed by JNU authorities against 20 students who include the JNUSU President and General Secretary.

18:28 January 07

Police asks public to share videos, info related to violence

Delhi Police issued a public appeal seeking pictures, footage or any information related to Sunday's violence in JNU campus that left 34 people injured even as forensic teams looked for evidence.

17:10 January 07

Jadavpur students hold protest

Students of Kolkata's Jadavpur University are holding a protest in Hazra against the JNU Violence, Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC.

16:24 January 07

10 injured as ABVP, NSUI clash in Ahmedabad over JNU violence

At least 10 people were reported injured in clashes between ABVP and NSUI members in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

The incident occurred when NSUI activists gathered in front of the ABVP office to protest the violence that took place on Sunday at Delhi's JNU campus. Police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed the crowd.

The ETV Bharat reporter, who was on the spot, also got his phone snatched in the violence.

NSUI national president Neeraj Kundan issued a statement condemning the incident.

16:02 January 07

Campuses must not become safe havens for politics of hate: VP Naidu

Days after the Jawaharlal Nehru University was rocked by violence, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said educational campuses must not become safe havens for the politics of hate and violence to thrive.

He also said academic endeavours and co-curricular initiatives must attain primacy in universities and not factionalism and divisive tendencies. 

There is no doubt that there is space for every shade of opinion and every point of view in our universities, Naidu said in his address at the silver jubilee celebrations of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in Bengaluru.

15:17 January 07

Crime Branch of Delhi Police is finding it difficult to identify the accused involved in the violence as CCTV server have been damaged.

Police are not getting CCTV footage due to server damage done on January 3. An FIR was registered in this regard.

Delhi Police have also taken into account the WhatsApp screenshots being circulated and have identified the numbers as well.

Most of the numbers are switched off right now. But their location at the time of violence will be taken through CDR.

14:47 January 07

Speaking to media on JNU violence, Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said: "The incident that took place on Sunday, Jan 5 is unfortunate. Our campus is known for debates and discussions to resolve any issues. Violence is not a solution. We will find every opportunity to make sure that normalcy returns to the University."

"The registration process has been restarted. Students can register for the winter semester now. Let us make a new beginning and put the past behind," he added.

14:45 January 07

Noble laureate and child right activist Kailash Satyarthi on Tuesday termed the incident "shameful" and "disgraceful".

"Attacks on JNU students by masked goons is utterly shameful. If our daughters aren't safe in girls hostels of universities like JNU and Jamia, there is nothing more disgraceful," Kailash Satyarthi told IANS.

"Whoever these attackers are they can't be students. All students organisations must oppose violence," he added.

Widespread violence broke out in JNU on Sunday with students, including girls, were assaulted in their hostel rooms by masked miscreants wielding wooden and iron rods. They also vandalised other properties. JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh was hit over her eye, with an iron road and taken to the hospital.

Some teachers were also injured in the violence, in which outsiders were also allegedly involved.

Satyarthi, whose Bachpan Bachao Andolan became a benchmark for child rights, urged the Prime Minister to initiate a dialogue with all students unions across the country to restore peace.

"In this situation of rising violence, anarchy and fear in universities, I urge the Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately initiate direct and constructive dialogue with university students unions & national students' bodies across the country, to restore peace," Satyarthi added.

14:40 January 07

After visiting JNU, Joint Commissioner Shalini Singh said: "We have visited all the spots and interacted with students in JNU. Currently, the investigation is in its initial stage. Students have put their confidence in us& given us few inputs."

14:39 January 07

 Facing flak from various right-wing groups and activists for carrying a placard "Free Kashmir" at a protest near the Gateway of India, a Mumbai woman claimed it was "intended for peace in Jammu & Kashmir", and apologised for the misunderstanding it created, here on Tuesday.

The placard was seen in her hand on Monday evening during the protests in Mumbai to condemn the violence on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus two days ago, triggered a political controversy.

On her part, the woman said that though she had no agenda or motive, she was taken aback by the reactions on social media to the 'Free Kashmir' poster she carried on Monday night.

"The picture created by entire social media came as an absolute shock to me. The placard meant 'freedom to express themselves, freedom from the Internet lockdown which many people have been voicing for'. I was voicing my solidarity for basic Constitutional right. No other agenda or motive whatsoever," she said.

14:21 January 07

 People from various Left organisations hold protest in Trivandrum of Kerala against Jan 5 violence at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University.

14:11 January 07

Talking to media on Jan 5 violence, Mos Home Nityanand Rai said: "Bharatiya Janata Party believes in law and order. No worker or leader of BJP can think of such a thing or incite anyone. This is work of communists and Congress and Kejriwal."

14:09 January 07

Speaking to media on 'Free Kashmir' poster, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray said: "Apart from that incident look at the larger picture, yes we need to see her intent, was it to remove internet blockade, if it was freeing Kashmir from India then it's wrong. Obviously everyone condemned it, not even other protesters supported it."

13:36 January 07

JNU Transparency Officer Chintamani Mahapatra said: "Our goal is to bring back stability and start the semester registration process. Protests should be under limits of law and keeping interests of students in mind. Appeal to students to withdraw their strike(against hostel manual and fee hike)."

13:06 January 07

Protest against the JNU violence was called off here on Tuesday after the demonstrators were shifted from the Gateway of India to Azad Maidan, police said.

In the morning, several protesters, including students and women, were taken in police vans from the iconic Gateway of India in south Mumbai as roads were getting blocked and people, including tourists, were facing problems, a police official said.

Police had appealed to protesters to shift but when they didn't listen, they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sangramsingh Nishandar said.

"After the protesters were relocated, they called off their demonstration," he said.

 Since the demonstration was posing problems for tourists and in traffic movement, the protesters were requested to move to the Azad Maidan, he added. 

While most of the students who were part of the protest left the Azad Maidan after the demonstration was called off, some people, including women, were still at the ground, another police official said.

12:58 January 07

Forensic expert

A team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) arrived at Jawaharlal Nehru University to conduct an investigation into January 5 violence at the university.

The Delhi Police officer Joint Commissioner Shalini Singh, who has been assigned to submit a fact-finding report to the Ministry of Home Affairs will visit the JNU campus today.

12:39 January 07

Speaking to media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Devender Arya said: "No fresh incident has been reported from any part of the university. Active deployment of police to continue both inside and outside the university."

12:28 January 07

JNU Registrar Dr Pramod Kumar said: "We are trying to make the students understand so that the registration process can be restarted. The administration is in contact with the students who are protesting. It is a total myth that we do not talk to them."

12:13 January 07

A Delhi police crime branch team on Tuesday arrived at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to investigate the violence that look place on the varsity's campus on January 5. 

11:37 January 07

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Director Errol D'Souza has condemned the violence in JNU, dubbing it as a "very low point" in the country's post Independence history.

He said a university stands for tolerance, dialogue and an "agreement to disagree", and violence violates the foundations of a civilization.

"A university stands for tolerance, dialogue and an agreement to disagree. Violence is anathema to the idea of a university and violates the foundations of a civilization" D'Souza said in a tweet late Monday night.

"The incidents yesterday (Sunday) on the JNU campus are a very low point in our post independence history," the IIMA director added.

11:31 January 07

 Police is taking the help of video footage and face recognition system to identify those involved in the violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here on Sunday, government sources said.

The violence was perpetrated by a group of masked men at the premises of the prestigious institution.

Police is taking the help of video footage as well as face recognition system to identify the culprits, the sources said on Tuesday.

The police is also investigating the claim made by a group called Hindu Raksha Dal of being involved in the violence at the university.

Police has taken cognisance of the the claim, the sources said.

11:29 January 07

A four-member fact-finding committee was formed by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on JNU violence issue is scheduled to meet today at Congress office.

They have to submit their report in a week.

11:12 January 07

Claiming the responsibility of JNU violence, Hindu Raksha Dal head Pinky Chaudhary said: "JNU is a hotbed of anti-national activities, we can't tolerate this. We take full responsibility of the attack in JNU and would like to say that they were our workers."

11:07 January 07

 Against the backdrop of attack on JNU students, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that what they wanted was happening, and said such "brutal politics" was never seen before in the country.

An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' further alleged that the BJP wanted to see "Hindu-Muslim riots" over the Citizenship Amendment Act, but that did not happen.

Since the BJP has been cornered over the issue of CAA, several things are happening out of "revenge", it said.

Comparing the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students to the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, the Shiv Sena said "divisive politics" was dangerous for the country.

It said the Union Home Ministry's decision to file cases against "unknown" attackers at JNU was laughable. "Those who entered JNU with masks are not unknown," it claimed.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in south Delhi and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.

10:55 January 07

Protester Kapil Agarwal said: "We were forcibly shifted here to Azad Maidan by police. But now we have called off our 'occupy Gateway of India' protests, it was a successful protest. Our resistance will continue, we have a long line up of programs."

10:37 January 07

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya

Commenting on 'Free Kashmir' poster, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said: "I have filed a complaint with Police, they have assured me of investigation."

10:35 January 07

Delhi police personnel outside the main gate of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Violence had broken out in the campus on January 5 in which more than 30 people were injured.

10:35 January 07

10:20 January 07

Talking about 'free Kashmir' banner, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said: I read in the newspaper that those who held 'free Kashmir' banner clarified that they want to be free of restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues. Also, if anyone talks of freedom of Kashmir from India then it will not be tolerated."

10:20 January 07

Delhi Police has filed an FIR against JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh and 19 others for attacking security guards and vandalizing server room on January 4.

The complaint was filed by JNU administration. 

An FIR was registered on January 5.

09:21 January 07

People protesting against the JNU violence were evicted from Gateway of India here on Tuesday morning as roads were getting blocked and tourists and common people were facing problems, a police official said.

Police had appealed to the protesters to shift but they didn't listen, so they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan, the official said.

Hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens - who assembled at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday midnight - demanded action against the culprits and called for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation.

Violence broke out in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

09:19 January 07

The DCP (Zone 1) Sangramsingh Nishandar appealed to the protesters at Gateway of India to relocate to Azad Maidan.

DCP Sangramsingh Nishandar said: "Roads were getting blocked and common Mumbaikar and tourists were facing problems. We had appealed to protesters many times,have now relocated them to Azad Maidan."
 

08:43 January 07

JNU violence: Protest at Gateway of India continues, people demand PM's resignation

Mumbai: With tambourines and guitars in their hands and songs of revolution on their lips, people protested against the attack on JNU students throughout the night in front of the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace hotel here.

People, including students and women, in large numbers had gathered in front of the Gateway of India in South Mumbai's Colaba on Sunday midnight. They were joined by Bollywood celebrities like Anurag Kashyap, Swara Bhaskar and Vishal Dadlani.

On Sunday evening, masked people brandishing hockey sticks and iron rods stormed the JNU campus in Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel. In the violence, 34 people were injured.

Songs like Hum dekhenge', Hum honge kamyab', Sarfaroshi ki tamanna' rent the air as students of IIT Bombay, TISS, and members of students' organisations, including the ASFI, raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Protesters, waiving the tricolour, raised slogans like Kagaz nahi dikhayenge' and Tum kaun ho be'. They demanded the resignation of Modi and Shah.

Goons of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) attacked students by entering the women's hostel at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the protesters alleged and demanded that the students' organisation be banned.

Slogans against Modi-Shah and their "tanashahi (dictatorship)" were raised by the protesters as they opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register. They also brought up the issue of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, during their protest.

Heavy police deployment was made at the protest site and water, tea, biscuits and fruits were being served to protesters. Civic bodies made arrangements for toilets.

Earlier on Monday, protest were organised near the Hutatma Chowk at Fort, but later permission was denied.

A call was given that people join the protests in front of the Gateway of India. Demonstrations had started there after Sunday midnight.

The organisers had asked participants to bring food, water, bed sheets, jackets, mats, power banks,charger, medicines.