JNU students protest outside Delhi Police headquarters

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students on Friday rallied outside the Delhi Police headquarters at ITO here to protest alleged inaction in case of the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed.

The students demanded that the status of the probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be made public and asked why the police had not yet examined records and closed-circuit television footage of vehicles entering the JNU campus on the day Ahmed went missing.

They also wondered why the police have not yet questioned the "goons" who beat up Ahmed.

Around 200 to 250 JNU students took part in the protest which started at 4.30 p.m. The police declared the protest illegal and warned the students to disperse.

The police barricaded the road outside the headquarters, causing a massive traffic jam.

Students made attempts to remove the barricades, but relented after JNUSU President Mohit Pandey pleaded with them not to resort to such actions and protest peacefully.

Another student body, Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), was part of the protest along with members of other student bodies.

Ahmed went missing on October 14 night after he was beaten up by some alleged activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

A police complaint was filed and a Proctorial inquiry was initiated by the university. The police later formed an SIT to trace Ahmed.

The protesters also denounced the findings of the JNU administration's inquiry, saying it failed to take cognisance of the facts as mentioned by the Warden of Mahi-Mandvi Hostel, where the assault took place.

The Warden, present when the attack occurred, had said it was a "brutal assault" on Ahmed in his October 16 report submitted to the varsity Proctor.

A student delegation, led by JNU Students Union (JNUSU) President Mohit Pandey, later went into the headquarters to hold talks on their demands with police officials.

The delegation included JNUSU office-bearers, namely Vice-President Amal, General Secretary Satarupa, and Joint Secretary Tabrez.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to R.P. Upadhyay, Joint Commissioner, South Range, demanding a through search of the forested area in the JNU, and examination of video recordings of nearby metro stations.

--IANS

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