There is no end to the standoff between Jawaharlal Nehru University administration and students in connection with a case of varsity student Najeeb Ahmed being missing for nearly a week. The protests turned volatile with the agitated students locking down Vice Chancellor Jagadish Kumar and other senior officials in the administrative building. The students sat outside the administration block saying the officials were free to walk over them.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the VC lamented that students have become relentless and adamant and think that the administration is not doing its best. “We hope Najeeb Ahmad comes back soon wherever he is. A number of steps have been taken to search him,” he added.
We hope that #NajeebAhmad comes back soon wherever he is, number of steps have been taken to search him: JNU VC M Jagdeesh Kumar pic.twitter.com/Jvk20819gu
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 20, 2016
Kumar also warned students that if the administration is stopped from doing its work, action will be taken. “Law will take its own course,” he said.
An appeal to JNU Students from JNU Administration. pic.twitter.com/2rra9DFO3h
— M. Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) October 19, 2016
Students have been claiming that the Vice Chancellor acted in an “insensitive” manner on the issue. A student of the School of Biotechnology, allegedly went missing on Saturday following a brawl on the campus with ABVP members the night before.
Defending their stand and claiming that there had been no “illegal detention” of the VC or others, the students said, “We have not illegally confined anybody in JNU administrative building. Electricity and all kind of supplies are here. We have also sent food for people inside,” Mohit Pandey, President, JNUSU said.
A large number of students had gathered at the administrative block in the afternoon to protest. After sloganeering and demonstration the students blocked the gates of the building.
“The blockade is due to the insensitive way of handling the matter of Najeeb Ahmed — the violence against him by ABVP which led to him missing from the campus for over five days now and the JNU administration trying to shield the culprits while refusing to lodge an FIR,” the JNUSU President said.
The situation remained tense with the left-backed JNUSU and ABVP leveling allegations and counter-allegations. ABVP alleged that there is inconsistency in the statements of the JNUSU president Mohit Pandey and the roommate of Ahmad.
