JNU sedition charge was based on TV channel video clip, says FIR

New Delhi: Amid mounting outrage over JNU row, it has emerged now that JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar was slapped with sedition charge based on a video clip of the controversial event at the university aired by a Hindi news channel. [caption id=“attachment_2632214” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] According to the FIR, police slapped the case of sedition against JNUSU president Kumar on 11 February after obtaining the video clip of the event, held two days earlier, from the channel though policemen were present at the event. Police had arrested Kumar on 12 February, accusing him of making anti-India remarks at the event organised by a Leftist students’ union to protest against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Students of JNU have been maintaining that Kumar never raised such objectionable slogans. The FIR was registered based on the video clip obtained from the channel’s office on 11 February. The FIR said after receiving information from JNU about possible trouble at the event, three constables were sent in civil clothes there. “HC Rambir No. 2923/SD, CT Karmbir No. 1664/SD, CT Dharmbir No. 3846/SD were sent in civil dress to the Sabarmati Dhaba and were briefed accordingly”, the FIR said. There were some policemen in uniform too. In the later stages of investigation, the police acquired two more video clips. The footage was broadcast on 10 February evening, following which the police sent a letter to the channel’s editor and obtained the video clip in a CD the next day. According to the FIR, the video showed that students raised pro-Pakistan slogans at the event. It said around 80-90 students were present at the event. The FIR said police also obtained from the university authorities the posters of the event one of which said “…collective conscience against the judicial killing of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat, in solidarity with the valiant people of Kashmir.” In the statement attached with the FIR, the police said that they have identified 10 students, which include Umar Khalid. However, JNUSU president Kumar’s name did not figure in it, the statement revealed. On the evening of 11 February, police sent a letter to JNU authorities, communicating that they were looking for six students including Kumar. The next day, he was arrested. PTI