Female students of JNU took to streets in protest over the violence in campus on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. While protesters demanded for the resignation of the JNU vice chancellor, the former urged the students to leave the past behind and return to classes.
New Delhi: Female students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday led a protest march in the campus, against the violence which had taken place in the university on January 5.
The protesters marched around the campus raising slogans targeting the university administration and the Centre. "Women of JNU against Fascism", "Education not for sale”, “Save Public Education”, “JNU rejects fee hike", read the banners carried by the students during the march.
More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU on Sunday and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.
Earlier on Tuesday evening, actress Deepika Padukone paid a visit to the varsity campus in south Delhi and joined students at the JNU, who were protesting against last week's incident in which many people were injured.
The Delhi Police have also registered a case in connection with the violence and a committee has been formed to probe the incident.
Protests have also erupted in different universities and places against the JNU violence demanding identification and arrests of the culprits.
Under fire from students and faculty members for not doing enough when they were brutally attacked by a masked mob on campus, Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday urged the students to put the past behind and return to the varsity's premises.
"Our heart goes out to all the injured students. The incident (violence) is unfortunate," Kumar said in a brief statement.
"I would like to tell students that JNU campus is a secure place. I urge all students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind," the vice chancellor said.
After the attack, there has been a demand from several quarters, including the students and faculty members, for his resignation.
Later, interacting with reporters, Kumar said the campus had its own security.
"If there is a law-and-order situation, we do not rush to police immediately. We see if our security can handle, but when it goes out of hand, we definitely approach the police because we do not want any innocent people to be injured," he said.
Students and teachers have also alleged that the vice-chancellor had not reached out to the students and teachers after the violence, but Kumar said "appropriate help" was being provided.
"A large number of security guards were also injured. The wardens inquired about students," he said. "Appropriate help is provided to teachers. Our office is always open and we regularly meet our teachers and students."
The vice chancellor said the students could avail treatment free of cost from the university's health centre.
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