Afzal Guru row: JNU forms committee to look into students

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JNU today formed a four-member committee to look into demands of students who are on hunger strike against punishment in connection with the controversial February 9 event even as three more students withdrew their fast due to deteriorating health condition.
"The Vice-Chancellor has decided to form a team consisting of Rector-1, Rector-II, Dean of Students and Registrar to discuss issues related to students and teachers who have been on hunger strike," the university said in a statement.
"Solutions can be found only through peaceful dialogue and discussion and not through measures that can also have long term impact on health and adversely affect the academic life on campus. The administration yet again appeals the students to end their strike and come forward to hold discussion of their demands," it added.

The students union, however, said it is yet to take a decision whether to enter into negotiations with the administration or not.
Meanwhile, three students-Umar Khalid, Pratim Ghosal and Parthipan, discontinued their fast after their health deteriorated.
Umar, who is out on bail in a sedition case over the event and has been rusticated for one semester by the university, was rushed to AIIMS in wee hours today when his sugar and sodium-potassium levels fell significantly.

So far, nine students, including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, have withdrawn from the fast against the punishment by the varsity in connection with the event while 11 others are still continuing with their hunger strike which entered the 12th day today.

JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA), university alumni and mothers residing on the campus have come out in solidarity with the fasting students by going on a one-day relay hunger strike on different days.
Terming the hunger strike to be an "unlawful activity", the university administration had last week appealed to the students not to invite outsiders on the campus and resort to "constitutional" means of putting forward their demands.
Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in February in a sedition case over the event and are out on bail now.
Financial penalty has been imposed on 14 students. Hostel
facilities oftwo students have been withdrawn and the university has declared the campus out of bounds for two former students.

Saurabh, who is the lone ABVP member in JNU Students Union, has also been slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000 for blocking traffic.
Five ABVP members including Saurabh, who were also on a hunger strike, had last week called off their fast claiming they have an assurance from the JNU administration about consideration of their demands.
Meanwhile, more than 370 Indian scientists and academics have written a letter to JNU VC expressing their dismay at the events that have played out on the institutions campus for over a week now.
In the letter, the signatories have expressed their "deep disappointment" with the actions of Kumar and call on him to take "urgent corrective steps to ensure that the police releases the arrested students, and also to ensure that it drops the unsubstantiated charges against them".