Masked RSS goons beat students of Jawaharlal Nehru University

NEW DELHI: Students at the Sabarmati, Mahi Mandvi, Periyar hostels of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have allegedly been attacked by masked goons who tortured students and vandalised the hostel building on Sunday.

The university's students’ union, JNUSU, has claimed that some "masked" persons entered the JNU's Sabarmati and other hostels and thrashed the students with sticks and rods on Sunday.

The students union has alleged that the attack was orchestrated by the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The JNUSU has alleged that ABVP "goons" pelted stones and also vandalised the property at the Sabarmati hostel, reported the international media.

JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh and General Secretary Satish Chandra Yadav have been injured in the attack, as per the videos and images surfaced on social media. Aishe Ghosh was seen bleeding from the head in photos and videos that surfaced on social media. "I have been brutally attacked by goons wearing masks. I have been bleeding.I was brutally beaten up," Aishe Ghosh was quoted as saying by ANI.

Some on social media have claimed that the attack was over the hostel fee hike and the boycott of the registration ahead of the semester exams.

The ABVP has, however, alleged that the members of the organisation, too, have been attacked on the university's hostels by the All India Students Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Students Federation (DSF).

Another report says fresh violence erupted in Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday evening after a mob pelted stones at protesting students and brutally attacked JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh. The incident took place during a march in the varsity around 5pm when masked individuals with rods entered Sabarmati hostel. After violence broke out on the campus, JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said in a statement, "This is an urgent message for the entire JNU community that there is a law and order situation on the campus. Masked miscreants armed with sticks are roaming around, damaging property and attacking people. The JNU Administration has called the police to maintain order."

In a statement, the Students' Union alleged that "ABVP had been attacking students who are peacefully protesting against massive fee hike in JNU". "Yesterday (Saturday) a mob led by Ritwik Raj who is councillor from School of International Studies belonging to ABVP attacked students. Then they attacked JNUSU President and General Secretary Aishe and Satish and other students. Some students claimed that DUSU president from ABVP, Satender Awana, was also seen on the campus.

An Aam Aadmi Party worker claimed that seven ambulances have been sent to JNU and other vehicles are on standby. The 7 ambulances sent to JNU to provide help for injured students and professors. More are on standby, please DM my colleague @ShaleenMitra for any further medical help required by anyone.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accused police of violence and appealed to restore peace. He said, “I am so shocked to know abt the violence at JNU. Students attacked brutally. Police shud immediately stop violence and restore peace. How will the country progress if our students will not be safe inside univ campus?”

But JNUSU said the administration used "masked" security guards to attack students. "They were shamefully wearing masks. JNUSU president was openly slapped by one of the security guards," alleged the students' union, which has called for a boycott of the process over the increase in hostel fees.

Meanwhile, the Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMI), which became a battlefield on December 15 over the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, is scheduled to open on January 6 after an extended winter vacation.

Jamia University administration had postponed varsity examinations and pre-poned winter vacation after the brutal police action on December 15 when Delhi Police forces barged into the campus during an anti-CAA protest.

On December 15, the Delhi Police entered the Jamia Millia Islamia University campus and allegedly assaulted several students after a mob of unidentified people joined the peaceful protest organised by the university students and set a few public buses on fire nearby.

The Jamia University has now said that the university will reopen from January 6 and the examinations will start from January 9. However, students have been advised to come back according to examination schedule. "The remaining odd-semester exams shall start from 9th January 2020 (Mostly PG courses).

The notification also advised students to regularly visit the official websites of Jamia for updates and to "avoid any confusion arising due to rumours and wrong communication on social media". "Cases of serious hospitalisation/medical ground will be dealt with separately," Jamia press release also said.