JNU panel recommends rustication of Umar Khalid, Anirban; fine on 21 students

A high level internal inquiry committee, constituted to probe the February 9 incident where allegedly 'anti-national' slogans were raised during an event on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, has in its report recommended rustication of two JNU students and imposition of fines on at least 21 students.

Twenty-one JNU students were also served a show-cause notice on Monday by the administration based on the findings of the high level internal inquiry committee which submitted its findings to JNU V-C Jagadesh Kumar last week.

The university administration in a statement said,"As per the report, some students have been found to have violated the University's rules and norms. There are standard provisions in the University rules to take action in such cases. The high level inquiry committee recommendations are based on the rules of discipline and proper conduct of JNU".

While the administration is yet to give any information on the magnitude of punishment given to the concerned students, sources told dna that the punishment may include "short term rustication and fines". "The committee had recommended that Umar and Anirban be rusticated for one full semester while all the other students found violating university rules will be fined," said a source.

The five-member panel, constituted on February 10 by the university not only became a target of the JNU teachers association for not including members belong to SC/ST community, but the decision to 'arbitrarily' suspend eight JNU students, six of whom were charged with sedition, including Kanhaiya Kumar, had been criticised by the varsity's faculty. It remains to be seen how the teachers association as well as JNU students, would react to the finding of the committee given the fact that arrests of Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban, snowballed into 'student movement' which supported by senior political leaders of opposition parties.

In another related development, Delhi police's anti-terror unit, the Special Cell, also visited JNU campus to seize laptops and mobile phone of two students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhatacharya, who are currently lodged in Tihar jail. The duo were placed under arrest after they had surrendered in front of the Delhi Police which had, in February, registered a case sedition against six JNU students including the president of student union, Kanhaiya Kumar.

"We had officially approached the university administration last week and informed it that we would be needing laptops and mobile phones of Umar and Anirban. When we had asked the duo about the same during interrogation they had told us that their laptops were in their respective rooms. Hence it was imperative to take the administration on board as the said items are required for the ongoing investigation,"said a senior police official of the special cell.

The developments come a day before multiple marches in solidarity with Umar and Anirban are to be held. The duo, who are currently in prison, will also face the court this week, after spending two weeks in judicial custody. Their counsel is likely to move a bail application as well.

Police seizes laptop and mobile phones of Umar and Anirban

In another related development, Delhi police's anti-terror unit, the Special Cell, also visited JNU campus to seize laptops and mobile phone of two students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhatacharya, who are currently lodged in Tihar jail. The duo were placed under arrest after they had surrendered in front of the Delhi Police which had, in February, registered a case sedition against six JNU students including the president of student union, Kanhaiya Kumar.