The move comes amid ongoing students’ agitation demanding suspension of professor Atul Johri
Dean of Students (DoS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) filed an FIR against 17 students for allegedly manhandling and abusing him during a protest they staged outside his office on March 12. The move comes amid the ongoing student agitation demanding suspension of professor Atul Johri for his alleged involvement in multiple cases of sexual harassment.
An FIR has been lodged against JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Geeta Kumari, its vice-president Simone Zoya Khan and others for creating ruckus inside the office of Dean of Student, Umesh Ashok Kadam.
Kadam alleged that the students barged into his office after they were provoked by JNUSU leaders. The students were allegedly protesting outside the dean's office demanding the rollback of hike in hostel and mess fees.
"They were protesting against the circular of Inter-Hall Administration(IHA) and demanding the entire circular be scrapped. They demanded that Geeta Kumari and Simone Zoya Khan should be included in the committee. The student didn't let me go outside my office and held me hostage. I was later taken out of the office with the help of security guards," he said in the FIR.
Rejecting the claims, students termed it as "harassment". "We are being targeted by the administration in nexus with the Delhi Police for protesting against repeated sexual harassment accused Atul Johri," the JNUSU said in a statement.
"We condemn this false and fabricated police case on JNU Students and JNUSU office bearers as it's a clear case of witch hunting and victimising students fighting against anti Student policies and for gender justice," they said.
Earlier on March 12, the JNU administration had also released a statement accusing the JNUSU members of manhandling Kadam. "JNUSU had called for a protest at the DoS on March 12. The DoS invited the students' representatives for a thorough discussion of their demand. While the discussion went on till 2:30 pm, around 15 students barged into his chamber and became violent," JNU registrar Pramod Kumar had said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "AIDWA activists")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}