JNU panel submits report, suspension of Kanhaiya and others revoked

JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, suspended along with seven others for participating in an alleged anti-national event, can join classes.

JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, suspended along with seven others for participating in an alleged anti-national event, can join classes.

Posters in support of Afzal Guru at Jadavpur University in Kolkata. (HT Photo)

The university withdrew the suspension after an internal probe panel submitted its report on the event, which took place on February 9. Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on sedition charges after the event, triggering a row.

The university panel submitted its report on Friday. The university will discuss the recommendations of the committee and announce its decision on Monday,” registrar Bupinder Zutshi told HT.

Zutshi clarified that the eight students have not been given a clean chit. “The order to debar eight students was only till the inquiry was pending. Now that the committee has submitted its report, the students can join classes from tomorrow (Saturday,” he said.

A three-member committee, which was later expanded to include two more members, was formed on February 10. The eight students were suspended on February 12, based on interim report but they were allowed to stay as guests in hostels till the inquiry was over.

Kumar led a team to meet the vice-chancellor on Friday and presented the resolution adopted by the students’ union. Kumar said that the union had decided that none of the students will depose before the committee.

“We want the suspension order scrapped, reconstitution of the enquiry committee its terms of reference and a free and fair probe into the February 9 event,” he said.

Besides Kumar, the eight suspended students are: Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya (they are in jail), Ashutosh, Rama Naga, Anant Kumar, Shweta Raj and Aishwarya Adhikari.

Fresh threat

A fresh poster issuing death threats to JNU student leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are facing sedition charges, appeared on Friday, PTI reported.

An image of the poster was circulated on WhatsApp and shared on social media with a caption claiming that a copy of it was spotted this morning at Jantar Mantar. The police searched the area and did not find any poster.