New posters make death threats against ‘JNU traitors’ Kanhaiya, Umar

A fresh poster issuing death threats to JNU student leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are facing charge of sedition, reportedly appeared in New Delhi on Friday.

A fresh poster issuing death threats to JNU student leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are facing charge of sedition, reportedly appeared in New Delhi on Friday, days after a similar poster announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh on Kumar which landed a man in jail.

JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar addresses a news conference at the JNU campus in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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.

However, a police team searched the area and said no such poster was spotted.

The poster said “to shoot the traitors of JNU is a Rashtradharm (national duty). I shall shoot Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and Kanhaiya.”

The poster has the name of one Balbir Singh Bharatiya who claimed to be a social worker and has been a part of the Anna Hazare-led movement against corruption. The poster also contained a phone number and a passport-size photograph of a man.

The poster condemned Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for their support to the JNU students.

When asked, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), Jatin Narwal said, “We have initiated an inquiry into the matter.”

When the poster could not be found near Jantar Mantar, policemen dialled the phone number mentioned on it, a police official said.

The person who picked up the call, claimed that he runs a shop at Yamuna Bazar area and that he had visited Jantar Mantar on Friday.

However, he did not specifically respond to questions about whether he had pasted the poster. This man is likely to be questioned soon, the official added.

On March 7, Delhi Police arrested Adarsh Sharma, who claimed to be the president of Purvanchal Sena, which had put up posters announcing a reward of Rs 11 lakh for anyone who “shoots” JNU Students’ Union president Kumar.