CCTV, books, 24/7 security for JNUSU prez Kanhaiya at Tihar Jail

A television set, a few books, clean blankets and newspapers have been placed at an independent cell in Tihar Jail for JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.

A television set, a few books, clean blankets and newspapers have been placed at an independent cell in Tihar Jail for JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.

Delhi police takes JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar to Tihar Jail after his hearing at Patiala court, in New Delhi on February 17, 2016.(Virendra Singh Gosain/ Hindustan Times)

Kumar was on Wednesday sent to judicial custody till March 2 by a Delhi district court.

A 10 feet by 20 feet cell in jail number 3 with an attached toilet, round-the-clock security cover and CCTV surveillance is to be Kumar’s home till March 2, said sources at Tihar Jail.

The undertrials and convicts, lodged in the jail for heinous cases, were curious to know who would share a cell with a PhD scholar. “When the news of Kanhaiya coming to Tihar spread, the inmates started to talk about it. None of them wanted a PhD student to stay with them. He would be such a misfit, they all said,” a source in Tihar said.

He said the inmates were relieved to know Kumar will be kept in an independent cell.

A few, who were JNU aspirants, seemed excited though. “Some of them said they will stay up till late to catch a glimpse of the ‘leader’,” a source said.

A Tamil Nadu Special Police personnel will accompany Kumar at all times. “He will be with him even at night. If Kumar wants to go out of the cell to make a phone call or the dispensary or even to take a walk, the security will accompany him. Since he is vulnerable to attacks, sufficient arrangements have been made to keep him safe,” a Tihar official said.