Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Oct 24: On 10th day of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed’s mysterious disappearance from his hostel room, around 500 students and teachers from different universities, along with family members of Najeeb and human rights activists, took out a protest march here on Monday.
Marching from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar near the Parliament House, the students were demanding the JNU administration and Delhi Police for safe recovery of Najeeb.
CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury addressing the students at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 24 Oct 2016. (Photo – IndiaTomorrow.net)
Extending their support to the demand, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D. Raja also attended the students’ meet at Jantar Mantar.
Students had gathered from various universities including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Ambedkar University and Aligarh Muslim University.
Addressing the students, JNU Students Union general secretary Satarupa Chakraborty said, “We have been alleged from JNU administration that we gheraoed the VC but we didn’t. We will intensify our movement until Najeeb is found.”
Amal P P, Vice president, JNUSU, said, “Today students are protesting in BHU, Jadavpur University, Allahabad University, HCU for democracy. These fascists are against India and Hindus. ABVP threatened Hindu students of JNU so they don’t join our movement. Shameless attitude.”
Kuldeep, member of Hyderabad University Student Association said, “BJP and RSS are attacking our voices by using students wing ABVP. We have seen Pondicherry, HCU case of Rohit Vemula and same happened in JNU. It was the responsibility of the varsity administration and VC to file an FIR if a student disappeared from the hostel. While administration referred Najeeb as an accused rather to take action against the culprits then we came on streets. HCUSA has extended its solidarity with this movement.”
Anup from Ambedkar University said, “This is deplorable. All these attempts from BJP and Sangh are to shrink university space. We extend our solidarity with Najeeb’s family and JNU students.”
Areeb Rizvi, final year student of MA (Sociology), Jamia Millia, said, “As it has been more than 10 days since a student is disappeared and nothing has happened neither from JNU VC nor from police, so we have given a joint call to all students in solidarity with this movement.”
Soon after the meet, JNU Students Union president Mohit K Panday went to meet Lt. Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung to submit a memorandum. Meanwhile, they student leaders are meeting National Minority Commission on Tuesday and Delhi Chief Minister on Wednesday.
Background
Najeeb, first year student of M.Sc. (Biotechnology), went missing from his Room No. 106 at the Mahi-Mandavi hostel of JNU, on 15th October, day after an alleged scuffle with some members of ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad), a student group affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Eyewitness and some residents of the hostel have alleged that during the scuffle on 14th Oct night, Najeeb was brutally assaulted by a mob of 15-20 students. On the complaint of his mother, the local Vasant Kunj police station lodged a case of abduction on 16th Oct. On the instruction of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the Delhi Police also set up a Special Investigation Team on 20th Oct.
Najeeb’s mysterious disappearance has forced the students to hold protest demonstration. Since 17th Oct, students have been continuously protesting inside and outside the campus. On 21st Oct, over 100 students tried to march towards the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, they were detained on the way and let off later in the evening. On 23rd Oct, they made a long human chain at the campus – from the Administrative Bloc to the Residence of Vice Chancellor. Najeeb’s mother, sister and brother were also part of the human chain. The family has been protesting along with the students at the campus since the day one.
The university has also expressed serious concerns over the disappearance of Najeeb.
“The missing of a student from the campus is everybody’s concern in JNU and the entire JNU community should make combined endeavours to trace Najeeb. Unlawful protests, as was seen in illegal seize of the Administration building with all officials, including the Vice Chancellor, physically confined for more than 20 hours, are not the appropriate methods to find Najeeb. All of us need to cooperate,” said the university in a press statement on 23rd Oct.
Students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 24 Oct 2016 over the mysterious disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed from his hostel room. (Photo – IndiaTomorrow.net)
However, the university cautioned against politicization of the issue.
“The ethos, norms and peaceful methods of resolving issues within the university are at stake because of reported attempts by some vested interests to give it a communal colour…The Administration appeals to the entire JNU community to unite against politicisation of Najeeb Ahmed missing case and cooperate to locate and ensure Najeeb’s safe return to the campus,” said the university.
