JNU row: Rowdy lawyers beat up Kanhaiya Kumar, journalists in police presence

NEW DELHI: A bunch of lawyers beat up JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar at the Patiala House District Court on Wednesday as he was brought in by the police after his two-day custody expired. They also beat up journalists and heckled other lawyers who had come in support of the JNU student leader — all in full view of the police which failed to protect the victims for the second time in three days.

Though the Delhi Police did not seek additional remand and commissioner BS Bassi even favoured bail, the Metropolitan Magistrate sent Kanhaiya to judicial custody till March 2. Throughout the afternoon, journalists and a section of lawyers supporting Kumar were attacked repeatedly by aggressive lawyers. Among them Vikram Singh Chouhan, believed to be close to BJP leaders, could be seen attacking all and sundry shouting shrill slogans and carrying the National Flag.

In a statement, Kumar said: “I am a firm believer in the Indian Constitution and it is my dream to do every thing possible to materialise the Preamble to the Constitution. An unfortunate incident happened in our university on February 9, 2016. I condemn it. Videos...show that some outsiders as well those belonging to JNU raised unconstitutional slogans within the premises of JNU. I do not support these slogans owing to my constitutional commitment.”