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India arrests student on sedition charges for organising event on Afzal Guru
NEW DELHI: Indian police arrested Kanhaiya Kumar, a student union leader, on charges of sedition on Friday, a day after a controversial event held at Jawaharlal Nehru University criticised the hanging of Afzal Guru in 2013, according to a report published on The Hindu website.
“Some policemen in plain clothes came to the campus, conducted a random check at various places including the hostels and convention centre and picked up Kanhaiya,” said a student.
Vice Chancellor of JNU M Jagadesh Kumar said, “While the JNU community upholds the right to free debate on campus, the University strongly condemns the use of the University as a platform for activities that violate the Constitution and the laws of the land. However, there could be aberrations where fringe sections misuse the freedom provided.”
A disciplinary inquiry was ordered when police received a complaint about the event by members of the right wing student group (ABVP) agitating against the “anti-national” event, even after it was changed from a protest to a cultural art and photography exhibition at the last minute.
Although events commemorating Guru’s death have taken place in the past, according to the Indian Express, JNU registrar Bhupinder Zutshi said, “if once a ‘wrong’ thing has happened it does not mean it has to happen again and again. We had denied the permission earlier too and those who were found ‘defying instructions’ by the probe committee were penalised.”
Afzal Guru was executed in Feb 2013, for his role in the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. His family was not informed and his body was not handed over to his family, adding further controversy to his case.
Police and rightwing Hindu groups had also attacked Kashmiri protesters who had gathered for a peaceful vigil for Guru.
Comments (42) Closed
Conduct a trial, announce the punishment and carry out the punishment all in secret without even notifying the family ... and then India calls itself a democracy.
I think Indian should arrest all Kashmiris in Indian held Kashmir on the charges of sedition anyhow they have already made Indian held Kashmir an open jail for Kashmiris
Shining India! I hope in comment section we'll soon read those typical self-praise of Indians ; 'In India we do this.....' yes! We know what you do in India! You hang people mercilessly who ask for their right of freedom.
Anti-national activity can't be tolerated anywhere and India is not apart. Think about Kohli's fan in Pakistan.
@lafanga before commenting on India, can you please tell me what about the poor guy, who hoisted Indian Flag in support of Virat Kohli ??
@lafanga...Democracy doesn't mean that you glorify anti country element...
@DEADPOOL I'm agree with you.
@Deadpool great reply
@lafanga - Democracy means to give a fair trial. Which Afzal Guru was given.
These kind of students who do not respect Indian laws should be expelled from the institution and not allowed to enter politics.
@lafanga Afzal Guru was given fair trial in India. No country would tolerate anti national activity.
how a person can be anti national by raising slogans.in India this is common now that who raise voice against hidutva govt is labelled as a anti national.
shining india
@Pakistani Democrat . This type of protest and open comment only allowed in Indian democracy. You see, one illiterate guy fan of Kohli arrested by Pakistan and will get 10 years in Jail. What are you telling about tolerance and jails ?
Apparently there seem to be Non Kashmiris in this group of protestors!
@Deadpool - So, the Pakistani hosting Indian flag in Pakistan was "the poor guy", so what are the sentiments for students protesting in India for secret trial and secret execution? Is it duplicity or biasness?
@Deadpool & Desi Dimag you are mixing two different things and it is natural when it comes to Kashmir all Indian lost their intellectual capacities hoisting flag of other country is different thing and remembering own citizen who was judicially murdered is totally another thing
How can opposing bjp and rss means opposing India??? All the student union are saying that some goons have illegally entered college campus did this ...
Such miscreants should be treated with strict action by any country. Trying to foment trouble and chaos cannot be the use of freedom.
The proof of Indian democracy- such protests are held without fear and in open media. This is always good.
@Rahul "Democracy means to give a fair trial. Which Afzal Guru was given." And, then by the same definition democracy means denial of basic human rights by denying the right of family to know about execution of their loved one and as if that was not enough to be further deprived of their absolute undeniable right to have the dead body of their dear one executed by the Indian State. Very fascinating indeed, while Pakistan being a fledgling in the field and aspires for ideal democracy, only Indians can define democracy in such fabulously novel manner. Good going, keep it up .
@Manoj.k my dear friend , did u watched the video where Omer Khalid and Kanhaiya kumar were screaming anti national slogan.
Both are member of JNUSU not the outsiders and Omer Khalid was even justifying himself on indian national television.
@Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A - Doesn't mean it has to be held in the open. No where does it say that. The US which is the oldest democracy in the world has their own secret endeavors. Area 51 being one. Osama's body was also dumped in the sea and wasn't given to his family. Does that mean that USA is not a democracy? What's the connection?
@lafanga .. Afzal trail was in open, even in supreme court the matter was discussed.
@rohit And what Supreme court had written in their judgement kindly read it again
@Kabeer .. I am sure you have read it... May be you can enlighten me.
@rohit I think it is available in India and read it and make your own opinion
Did anyone even bother to see the video of protests on YouTube. They were not only arrested because they were mourning for Afzal Guru. They were arrested because their so called vigil converted into an anti-India protest. The slogans shouted were "India ki barbaadi tak, jung rehegi, jung rahegi." If you are going to do this on a university campus without permission, then it is natural that action will be taken against you.
Now people will comment without even knowing what those students were doing. They deserve this!
Sonia is trying to disturb peace to discredit Modi govt.
The decision is the best. No country of the world will allow such anti national languge. Will pakistan goverment allow such slogans ?
@rohit why doesn't the same quick trial happens in cases of Samjhota Express and Babari Masjid incidents? Ever wondered?
@Muhammad Good idea! Anyone who lives in the soil and ruins it should be punished be it Myslim, Hindu or any religion or background
While what those kids said was despicable...they should be free to say it anyway....its a free world!
These so called 30+ year old students of JNU only know phorren ideologies explained in their alien imperialist's one and only one book. These guys and gals need to be sent to gulags of GadhChiroli to toil in paddy fields and defending Siachin borders. Too long these Lottyen created parasites are sucking blood of toiling masses.
Black day for academic freedom and free speech in India.
@Valar Morgulis dat doesn't mean convicts are innocent..!
@Harmony-1© It's about anti national sloganeering..please know details..before commenting..
@mrunal Doesn't matter. If they want to destroy the country where they are born and which is funding their education, these students deserve to spend rest of their lives behind bars.
@Rohit Saying things is a start. Doing things to achieve what you say will harm the nation.
@Harmony-1© What secret trial are you talking about. India is a democracy and all trials are transparent. When students who are funded by taxpayer's money want to destroy the very nation they are part of they deserve to be tried and punished.
@Sudhir Neyalasinger - "India is a democracy and all trials are transparent". Really?
http://www.dawn.com/news/1176975/deadly-politics-of-encounters