Bassi's Dark Hint: Not Shy of Using Options Against the JNU Five

The chief of Delhi Police says it's not for lack of 'options' that the five students holed up in JNU are not being rounded up
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi leaves after meeting Lt Governor Najeeb Jung in New Delhi on October 20. | PTI
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi leaves after meeting Lt Governor Najeeb Jung in New Delhi on October 20. | PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police will not "shy away" from using their options if the five Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students who resurfaced on campus fail to cooperate with the investigators, police commissioner B S Bassi today said.            

"There is no doubt that seditious speeches and slogans were raised in the event concerned. We also know that some who were involved in it, who went absconding soon after, have now returned. "For every job we do, our tactics are dynamic," Bassi said.            

He further said, "Today, we can afford to wait for them (the five students) to regain some 'sadbuddhi' (better sense) and cooperate with the police."  

"If we feel that they are unlikely to abide by the law, we have options available and we will not shy away from using them," he added.

The five JNU students, including Umar Khalid, resurfaced in the university on Sunday night but the police have not arrested them yet.           

In an apparent U-turn in the police's approach in the case, senior officials now say they are waiting for the students to surrender on their own and expect the JNU authorities to persuade them to do so.       

Bassi had yesterday said that the final call will be taken by the investigating officer of the case and whether to enter the university's campus or not will be the decision of DCP (South) Prem Nath who is heading the probe.

Police had registered a case of sedition in connection with the event held at Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, to mark the death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, in which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

On February 12, the police arrested JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with the case and started a search operation for others.   

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