New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, who was confined at the administrative building since Wednesday afternoon, on Thursday blasted the protesting students for being adamant on their demand, adding that steps were being taken to trace missing student Najeeb Ahmed.
Briefing the press, Kumar said, the JNU administration acted swiftly as soon as the matter was reported.
The JNU VC said Ahmed's mother had already filed an FIR with the police, so university's letter was used by the police as a supporting document.
In a stern message to the protesting students, Kumar said, law will take its own course if the university is not allowed to function.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma and asked him to submit a report on the whole episode.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on any information on the missing JNU student.
Reacting to the whole incident, Minister of State Kirren Rijiju said, "It's sad that the Vice Chancellor and other officials were gheraoed," adding, "it seems some students come to the university do politics and not study."
Kumar told ANI in a telephonic conversation that it is wrong on the part of the students to gherao him and other officials."We are also concerned that Najeeb Ahmad is missing. We have talked to police also but gheraoing me and other officials is wrong. Students have gheraoed us since 2.30 pm yesterday. We had to sleep on floor and there was no food to eat. Students are not even allowing wives of officials to meet."
A student named Najeeb Ahmed had gone missing on the night of October 14 from the university hostel Mahi-Mandvi after a brawl with a few ABVP students. Since then a police complaint has been filed under IPC Section 365 and a Proctorial inquiry has been initiated by the University.
Except Akhil Bhartiya Vidya Parishad (ABVP), all student political parties are protesting against the administration.
Apart from Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, Rectors one and two and Registrar of the university were said to be confined inside the building last night.
Commenting on the alleged confinement of the administrators, JNUSU president Mohit Pandey said, "We have not illegally confined anybody in JNU administrative building. Electricity and all kind of supplies are here. We have also sent food for people inside."
