NEW DELHI: A report by the Special Investigating Team of the Delhi Police, formed on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s directions to trace missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmad, fears that a communal situation is brewing on campus. It warned “keeping in view the overall situation in all campus and student sentiments, there are chances that different student and political organisations may try to mobilise supporters” to foment trouble.
The two-page classified note said Left-leaning organisations have formed an alliance in JNU against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The report also stated massive media attention could follow on the lines of the Kanaiyah episode. The report said though the hostel warden and JNU administration had taken notice of the incident, they were yet to decide their course of action.
Student elections and politics lie at the heart of a missing case controversy that has spilled over to the streets in Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. It’s a week since 27-year-old Najeeb Ahmad, biotechnology student and member of the Leftist All India Students Association (AISA) went missing from room number 106 of the Mahi and Mandavi hostel on October 15. JNU is in a state of ferment with AISA accusing the BJP’s student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) of kidnapping or harming him.
What has gone unreported is the fact that Ahmad had been, on the same day, expelled from the hostel at a “Warden and Student meeting held in emergency” on October 15 at the hostel for attacking a fellow student, according to the police.
“As emergency meeting was held due to the situation arisen by slapping of Vikrant Kumar (Room 213 Mahi) by Najeeb Ahmad (Room 106 Mahi). The alleged incidence happened when Vikrant Kumar contesting for mess secretary went to the room of Najeeb. It is said that Najeeb without any provocation slapped Vikrant in front of two witnesses Ankit kumar (Room 214 Mahi) and Sunil Pratap (Room 122 Mahi),” stated the signed copy of the meeting, which is in possession with The Sunday Standard.
It further stated that the accused Najeeb allegedly accepted the blame in front of Sushil Kumar, the hostel warden, JNSU president Mohit Pandey, and even Qasim who shared the room with Najeeb. A copy of the proceedings was given to both Ahmad and Vikrant Kumar.
Sources said two days after Ahmed went missing, Mohit Pandey accused ABVP members of having harmed him. Ahmed's roommate Qasim and fellow students Shahid Raza Khan and Hamid Raza wrote to the JNU chief proctor alleging that nine ABVP students attacked Ahmad. They accused them of threatening Ahmed’s life in the presence of varsity officials and students. The letter also alleged that the nine students attacked Ahmed with an iron rod and abused his religion.
It further says, “In order to save Ahmed, we along with the security personnel took him to washroom and blocked the entrance to save him. Then Sushil Kumar and Mohit Pandey entered and with the help of security guard they entered into warden’s office.” The chief proctor was urged to write a missing complaint with Delhi Police to trace Ahmed. Pandey, members of AISA and other left wing organisations subsequently circulated the complaint letter widely across the JNU. Cops fear Qasim’s complaint stating that ABVP members called him a “mulla” could incite communal passions, which can be exploited by political organisations to create yet another controversy after Kanaiah Kumar was arrested for allegedly raising anti-India slogans in February.