Fee hike: Visually challenged JNU students protest outside police headquarters

Visually challenged students of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Wednesday protested outside the old police headquarters here against the alleged lathicharge by the force on varsity students protesting against hostel fee hike.

The students later submitted a memorandum of demands to the police and were assured that their complaints will be looked into.

The students met Delhi Police PRO and DCP (Central) Mandeep Singh Randhawa and apprised him of the "instances of lathicharge and manhandling" of students during the protests on Monday, the minutes of their meeting said.

The Delhi Police assured the students that their allegations will be enquired and proper steps would be taken.

"Randhawa agreed to issue a circular to sensitise Delhi Police personnel with regard to dealing with persons with disabilities. It was agreed upon that there will be an official inquiry into the instance of lathicharge and derogatory remarks," the minutes said.

Shashi Bhushan Pandey, a differently abled student, had alleged he was lathicharged even after he told police that he is visually challenged.

He had said policemen even told him, "If you are blind, why are you even here at the protest."
Rashmi Sharma, another differently-abled student, said, "We want a written apology from Delhi police on the lathicharge that they did on a visually challenged student. Even I was present during that protest and when police started pushing the students, I started running and fell down and was hurt."