JNU ruckus: Students call off the blockade, allow VC to leave

New Delhi: After 24 hours of confinement of Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar by students protesting outside the administrative block demanding a conclusive response on the whereabouts of missing student Najeeb Ahmed, the agitating students today called off the blockade and allowed Mr Kumar to leave the block, after he assured of fair inquiry into the matter. Ahmed, a student of School of Biotechnology, had been missing since October 15 after an altercation with some Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) students at the Mahi-Mandavi hostel.

Earlier in the day, Mr Kumar said he had spoken to the students and explained them the efforts made by the JNU to locate the missing student. He also appealed to the missing student to return and resume his academic activities without fear stating that a fair inquiry was initiated. The ABVP has denied of having any role in Ahmed's disappearance. "ABVP has no role in his disappearance. The administration should question Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Mohit Kumar Pandey in connection with the case. If there was reports of mob lynching of the missing student, why didn't they do his medical," one of the ABVP leaders told reporters here.

"The FIR of Ahmed's missing was even reported by his parents after 24 hours of his disappearance from the varsity," he said. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today directed Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma to constitute a special team to look out for the missing JNU student. Reacting on the blockade, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters, "The university administration has been doing, what it has to do. It is very sad that they gheraoed the VC and other officials." He added that some students in the varsity come here only to do politics, rather than engaging in all these matter, they should concentrate on their studies. (UNI)