Kanhaiya & Others Fined Rs 10-20K, Umar and Anirban Suspended

The JNU Students’ Union Vice President, Shehla Rashid, has deemed the enquiry ‘farcical’ and rejected the report.

The High Level Enquiry Committee set up by Jawaharlal Nehru University imposed a fine of Rs 10, 000 on JNU Students’ Union president, Kanhaiya Kumar, and another JNU student affiliated to ABVP, Sourabh Kumar, on Monday.

Umar Khalid too has been slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000 and rusticated for one semester, along with Anirban Bhattacharya, who has not only been rusticated till 15 July but also barred from pursuing any course for the next five years in JNU.

Mujeeb Gattoo, who is also a student of JNU, has been rusticated for two semesters.

While Umar and Anirban were blamed for “triggering communal violence” and “disrupting” communal harmony on the campus, Mujeeb was found guilty of participating sloganeering. Kanhaiya was pronounced guilty of indiscipline and misconduct.

The recommendation is only a compromise. I oppose all this. I will say that those who were involved should be terminated. They should not just let go with a fine.

Sourabh Kumar, Student and Member of ABVP

Those who have asked to pay Rs 20,000 each include former JNUSU President Ashutosh Kumar, former general secretary Chintu Kumari, current General Secretary Rama Naga, Aishwarya Adhikari, former Vice President Anant Prakash Narayan and Gargi, for “violating” disciplinary norms.

The campus has been made out of bounds for two former students - Banojyotsana Lahiri and Draupadi, while hostel facilities for Ashutosh Kumar have been withdrawn for a year and for Komal Mohite till July 21.

In his reaction, Kanhaiya said the punitive action announced by the authorities was “simply unacceptable” and that the students rejected it. The students will hold an “all party” meeting later tonight to finalise a future course of action.

We completely reject this farcical enquiry report, as it is based on sheer vendetta and a biased enquiry. These are all innocent students, coming from extremely humble and underprivileged backgrounds.

Shehla Rashid Shora, JNUSU Vice President

JNU had constituted a five-member high-level enquiry committee to investigate the controversial event at the campus on 9 February and the panel had found some students guilty of violating disciplinary norms and disrupting communal harmony.

(With inputs from PTI.)