JNU student leader Kanhaiya sent to judicial custody, attacked in court
Delhi’s Patiala House court on Wednesday sent JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar to judicial custody till March 2. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked authorities to evacuate a local Delhi court, where Jawaharlal Nehru University student union president Kanhaiya Kumar was attacked amid violent clashes and slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’.
Delhi’s Patiala House court on Wednesday sent JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar to judicial custody till March 2.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked authorities to evacuate a local Delhi court, where Jawaharlal Nehru University student union president Kanhaiya Kumar was attacked amid violent clashes and slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’.
A group of lawyers attacked a journalist and threw stones at media personnel stationed outside the Patiala House court in central Delhi, hours after the SC issued strict guidelines for a hearing of sedition charges against the student leader.
The SC asked Delhi Police counsel Ajit Sinha to tell the magistrate at the Patiala House court to adjourn the hearing and evacuate those present.
The top court also rushed six senior lawyers with police protection to assess the ground situation but agencies reported that the team was blocked by a slogan-shouting mob.
“We are concerned about the law and order situation,” the SC said.
Watch | Kanhaiya Kumar manhandled in Patiala House court
The incident came two days after the same group of lawyers and other leaders – including BJP’s Delhi legislator OP Sharma -- thrashed several journalists and students outside the court, calling them anti-national.
“People who said “Pakistan Zindabad” have been made heroes & we are being called gundas,” said Vikram Chauhan, a lawyer who led the protests on both days.
Senior counsel Indira Jaising informed the SC about the violence and the apex court asked Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi to take action against those indulging in violence irrespective of their profession.
“Police was a mute spectator like yesterday. I have photos to prove,” said Tariq Anwar, a Firstpost journalist injured in the scuffle.
Earlier in the day, the SC restricted entry into the Patiala House complex on Wednesday morning while hearing a petition into Monday’s court violence but the strict norms failed to stop lawyers from clashing with each other.
Also Read | Another scuffle at Patiala House: Lawyers protest, beat up journo
(With agency inputs)
