Delhi Police Closes JNU's Main Gates, Terrified Students Leave Campus After Sunday Rampage

A day after the unprecedented mob attack, situation remained critical in and around the JNU campus. As part of the precautionary measure, the Delhi Police closed the main entry gates of the JNU. Terrified students were seen leaving for their homes despite the assurances by the university authorities. A senior police official of DCP rank reached the campus to probe the Sunday violence. While the mob attack has triggered nationwide protests across campuses in India, the larger question remains as to who were the real preparators of the violence that left 34 students and teachers injured.

Meanwhile, senior warder of Sabarmati Hostel has stepped down in the wake of the attack. On Monday, JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar issued a fresh statement to assuage the students. “JNU administration will use all possible means to protect the safety and security of our students.  We all need to stand together to protect the interests of genuine students. The University should not be held to ransom by some agitators who have no respect for the fundamental rights of law abiding students,” the statement read.

The Vice-Chancellor also said that the real reason behind the Sunday violence was protest against the ongoing registration process. “The origin of the present situation in JNU lies in some agitating students turning violent and obstructing the academic activities of a large number of non-protesting students. The protesting students damaged the University communication servers to disrupt the winter semester registration. They prevented thousands of students from doing their winter registration. Their intent is clearly aimed at disrupting the functioning of the University. This is simply hooliganism and against the ethos of JNU. No such person will be spared and appropriate action will be taken,” Kumar said.

On Monday, the Jawaharlal Nehru Teachers' Association has written to the President, “who is the Visitor to the varsity, demanding the removal of the Vice Chancellor.” Holding the Vice Chancellor responsible for the "orgy of violence" in JNU on Sunday, JNUTA said entry of goons into the  campus without connivance of the adminstration was not possible. "The JNUTA with full sense of responsibility accuses the JNU Administration headed by the Vice-Chancellor of being responsible for the orgy of violence in JNU," they said.

However, JNU Student’s Union has slammed the Vice-Chancellor’s statement saying that he was trying to twist the facts. “The VC is trying to put a spin on yesterday's attack, after a long night of meetings with the BJP ITCell. However, everyone, barring him, know what happened, as JNU students still have access to the internet. Every student of this university is witness to the carnage,” JNUSU said on Twitter.