Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Wednesday 'locked' the senior officials of the university including Vice-Chancellor and Proctor inside their offices in protest after one of the students went missing.
A student of School of Biotechnology, Najeeb Ahmed, allegedly went missing on Saturday following a brawl on the campus the night before.
In protest, the students, led by JNU Students Union blocked the administrative block in the campus, locking the senior officials of the university in their offices.
"They have wrongfully confined us since 2.30 pm with unreasonable demand like bring Najeeb immediately. These are things not in our hands but with the police. We are doing whatever we can. We also want safe return of Najeeb. But they (students) have not even listened to our plea. There is a lady official who is unwell and she too is inside," said M Jagadesh Kumar, VC, while making an appeal to the students at around 10.45 pm with detailing what the administration has done so far on the issue.
A large number of students had gathered at the administrative block in the afternoon to protest. After sloganeering and demonstration the students blocked the gates of the building.
After intervention from the security the locks were opened, but in the evening as most of the staff left, the students again continued with the blockade.
"The blockade is due to the insensitive way of handling the matter of Najeeb Ahmed -- the violence against him by ABVP which led to him missing from the campus for over five days now and the JNU administration trying to shield the culprits while refusing to lodge an FIR," said Mohit Pandey, president, JNUSU.
The JNUSU denied reports that it has illegally confined anybody in the building.
“Proctor was outside and he freely walked into the admin. Electricity and all kind of supplies are here. We have also sent food for all people,” JNUSU said in a statement.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma on the case and was briefed by the CP.
Meanwhile, the University administration today summoned at least 12 students in connection with the case.
An FIR for kidnapping and wrongfully confining a person was lodged at Vasant Kunj North police station yesterday after the police received a complaint from the student's guardians.
JNU administration has also requested all relevant Central agencies, including National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) and CBI for help in tracing Ahmed.
"The JNU administration had summoned 12 students to depose before the proctorial committee whose names have been associated with the incidence of violence at Mahi-Mandvi hostel on October 14.
"The committee has also asked anyone who wants to depose to come forward and help in the investigation. Condemning the students for blocking the administrative block, JNU teachers also urged the administration to put more pressure on the police to find Ahmed and appealed for him to return without fear of victimisation," a statement said.
M Jagadesh Kumar, vice chancellor, JNU and other top officials briefed the media for the first time since the disappearance on October 15 noon and said that all necessary measures have been taken to trace the boy and is also in touch with the family.
