JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is lodged in a secluded cell in Tihar facing sedition charges, has written to the National Human Rights Commission that attack on him by a group of la
JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is lodged in a secluded cell in Tihar facing sedition charges, has written to the National Human Rights Commission that attack on him by a group of lawyers at the Patiala House courts complex had unnerved him and he fears serious threat not only to his life, but also to his family in Bihar. Fearing threat to his life, the jail authorities have already provided him unprecedented security cover in Tihar.
In his five-page handwritten statement to the NHRC, a copy of which has been accessed by this newspaper, Mr Kumar has given a detailed account on how he was arrested from the JNU campus without being given any prior information or served any summons or warrant by the Delhi police.
He said, on the police request, he had given in writing that the situation in the country was deteriorating and he had full faith in India’s unity and Constitution. The same statement was issued later in the form of an appeal by the police.
Mr Kumar said when he was brought to the Patiala House courts, the police personnel were talking amongst themselves and the way arrangements had been made constantly increased his fear. “My fear came true as I was attacked by a group while entering the court complex. Most of these people were wearing lawyers’ robes. The way the attack was organised, it was indeed life threatening.”
The JNUSU president said he was constantly beaten up while being taken to the courtroom. “I am under constant fear due to February 17 happenings. I fear my house may be attacked. I fear my family may also be attacked. I have provided this information to magistrate Lovleen Singh also,” he said.
While protecting him against the lawyers’ assault, Mr Kumar said many police personnel also suffered injuries. “They did their best to save me. But even after I had identified the attacker, he slipped out of the courtroom in front of the police. After that court proceedings went on, and I was finally moved to the Tihar jail at 8 pm.”
Mr Kumar said whatever statement he had given to the police about the February 9 controversial event, he had repeated the same before the court. “On February 9 whatever sloganeering took place in JNU, I was neither its organiser nor was I present at the spot. I do not support this in any form. It has been proved that I was part of the crowd which was fighting against each other during my three-day police custody, I was not beaten up, but I constantly felt psychological pressure on me. The police got my statement registered against my wishes.”
