JNU row: Kanhaiya subjected to psychological pressure, attack on him appears planned, says NHRC

New Delhi: Amidst a huge uproar over the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru Student's Union president on charges of sedition, a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report revealed on Friday that Kanhaiya Kumar was subjected to psychological pressure during police interrogation and the assault on him in the court premises appeared to have been "organised and pre-planned".

“Kanhaiya Kumar didn't complain of any physical assault by police, he was subjected to psychological pressure during interrogation,” ANI quoted a NHRC report as saying.

The report also said that the statement issued by police as an appeal on behalf of Kanhaiya Kumar was not written by him voluntarily.

The report reads: “Statement issued by police as an appeal on behalf of Kanhaiya Kumar was not written by him voluntarily but dictated by police.”

In a further revelation, the report added - “Physical assault on Kumar in the court premises appears to be organised and pre-planned.”

“What happened in Patiala House complex on Wednesday was major security lapse on part of police. There was serious dereliction of duty,” the report said.

“Going by sequence of events, safety and security of Kanhaiya and his family members is a serious cause of concern,” the report said.

The NHRC report comes shortly after the JNUSU today passed resolution condemning raising of anti-India, pro-Pakistan at the varsity campus on February 9. 

Jawaharlal Nehru University students earlier in the day received messages of support and solidarity from various unions from across the country.

JNU students today attended lectures and appeared in exams even as they continued with their protest demanding release of students union president Kanhaiya Kumar who was arrested in a sedition case in connection with an event in the campus.

So far, the students had been boycotting the classes, saying their strike will be on till Kanhaiya is released. However, today they decided to continue with the protest while participating in academic activities.

The JNUSU has also resolved to work in identifying, isolating and ensuring punishment for the 'subversive' elements that have brought disrepute to JNU.

Earlier today, JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar's bail plea in the High Court was not be heard.

Kanhaiya Kumar had yesterday directly moved the apex court seeking bail while claiming threat to his life in Tihar Jail.

In the petition, filed through advocate Anindita Pujari, Kumar, who was also attacked in Patiala House court complex by a group of lawyers, claimed his innocence.

Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on February 12 on sedition charge following a controversial event at JNU campus where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.

The student leader was produced in the court on Wednesday after the end of his police custody, where a group of men dressed in lawyers' robes unleashed a brazen attack on him and others, which included journalists, who were present there.

Kanhaiya had sough the apex court's intervention, saying no purpose would be served by keeping him in the jail and the police was finding it difficult to even produce him in the court.