Najeeb Ahmed mom, sister detained over stir

The Delhi police on Sunday detained Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students for staging a protest at the India Gate against the alleged administrative and police inaction to trace the missing student, Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing for the last 22 days.

The police also detained Najeeb’s sister and mother in a police van along with other protesters. While his mother, Fatima Nafees, was taken to Mayapuri police station, his sister Sadaf Musharaff was taken to Mandir Marg police station along with several other protesters.

Protesters raised slogans against the authorities and alleged that the police misbehaved with Najeeb’s mother.

The protest, however, led to disruption of traffic in the city causing massive traffic jam across several parts of Central Delhi including India Gate, Mandir Marg, Mathura Road, Subramaniam Bharti Marg, Sikandara Road, Rafi Marg and Janpath. These were closed for general traffic due to law and order arrangements.

In addition to this, traffic was also heavy on road number 13 Kalindi Kunj towards Noida (both carriageways) and Chandgi Ram Akhara towards ISBT due to Chhath Puja.

However, the Delhi police had requested JNUSU in writing not to assemble near India Gate as prohibitory orders u/s 144 CRPC is in force. NSUI, CYSS, and others also joined the call. They were advised to assemble at Jantar Mantar, but despite the advisory, everyone started assembling around India Gate in various groups.

“The shameless Delhi police, which failed to find Najeeb for the last 23 days, have misbehaved with Najeeb’s mother. She was beaten up and dragged into the police van. His sister is also detained,” said JNUSU general secretary Satarupa Chakraborty. Delhi police personnel deployed at various locations stopped the protesters, dissuaded them to move towards India Gate and were taken to different police stations.

“‘During JNU protest at India Gate, none have been manhandled. A group of JNU students, along with Najeeb’s mother, assembled near ASI. They were persuaded not to move towards India Gate. They didn’t agree and were adamant to move ahead. They were all taken into a bus to Mayapuri police station. Ms Nafees was duly attended to by lady police officers and now being dropped to her place of stay,” said Dipendra Pathak, joint commissioner of police.

Earlier in the day, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal met President Pranab Mukherjee who assured him of seeking a report from the ministry of home affairs and the JNU administration on Najeeb.

Meanwhile, the BJP accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and the Left parties of orchestrating protest by the students at India Gate, saying they cannot digest the good work done by the Narendra Modi government.