\'Masked men\' run riot on JNU campus

New Delhi: Violence erupted on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night. A clash broke out between members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students Union and the ABVP on the university campus on Sunday, sources said.

The university administration said "masked men" were going round the campus damaging property and attacking students. It said the police were called to campus to tackle the "masked men."

Left-wing students said JNUSU preident Aishe Ghosh was brutally attacked during the clash which took place during a public meeting organised by the JNU Teachers' Association. The students' union claimed that many other students were injured in stone pelting by ABVP members.

But the RSS-backed students' organisation alleged that its members were brutally attacked by Left-affiliated student outfits, leaving 25 of them injured.

JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said in a statement, "This is an urgent message for the entire JNU community that there is a law and order situation on the campus. Masked miscreants armed with sticks are roaming around, damaging property and attacking people. The JNU Administration has called the police to maintain order."

“This is the moment to remain calm and be on the alert.... Efforts are already being made to tackle the miscreants," he added.

The Delhi police entered the JNU campus on the request of the university administration, officials said.

The JNUSU claimed that "ABVP members wearing masks were moving around on the campus with lathis, rods and hammers".

"They are pelting bricks...getting into hostels and beating up students. Several teachers and students have also been beaten up," JNUSU claimed.

JNUSU president Ghosh has been "brutally" attacked and she was bleeding from her head, they said.

Members of Left-backed student outfits alleged that outsiders were allowed to enter the campus and they barged into hostels, including girls' hostels.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) claimed that its members were brutally attacked by students affiliated to Left student organisations SFI, AISA and DSF.

"Around 25 students have been seriously injured in the attack and there is no information about the whereabouts of 11 students. Many ABVP members are being attacked in hostels and the hostels are being vandalised by the Leftist goons," the ABVP said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he spoke to Lt Governor Anil Baijal shortly after violence erupted at JNU and urged him to direct police to restore order on the campus. He expressed shock and said he wondered how the country would progress if students were not safe inside universities.

"Spoke to Hon'ble LG and urged him to direct police to restore order. He has assured that he is closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

"I am so shocked to know abt the violence at JNU. Students attacked brutally. Police shud immediately stop violence and restore peace. How will the country progress if our students will not be safe inside univ campus?" he said in another.

Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “It is shocking and horrifying to see live telecast of masked men entering JNU hostels and attacking students."

He alleged that such an "act of impunity can only happen with the support of the government".

“What we are seeing on Live TV is shocking and horrifying. Masked men enter JNU hostels and attack students. What is the police doing? Where is the police commissioner?" the former finance minister tweeted.

"If it is happening on live TV, it is an act of impunity and can only happen with the support of the government. This is beyond belief," he wrote on the microblogging site.