JNU Meat Row – Student groups file cross FIRs, Cops say probe underway

The Delhi Police on Monday registered different FIRs on the basis of complaints received by two rival student groups in connection with a clash on the JNU campus over non-vegetarian food being served in a hostel mess and alleged disruption of Ram Navami puja.

This comes a day after the two groups clashed at the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Kaveri Hostel allegedly over the issue.

Police said on Monday that two FIRs have been registered on the complaints received from both the groups and that they have received 20 medico-legal cases so far from the students injured in the violence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C said that they received a complaint early Monday morning from a group of students who are members of JNUSU, SFI, DSF and AISA against unknown ABVP students.

“Accordingly, we have a registered an FIR under section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

Further investigation is on to collect factual or scientific evidence and identify the culprits,” he said.

The complaint stated, “At 3.45 pm on 10th April, the ABVP students assaulted the meat vendor who brought chicken for dinner at Kaveri hostel and when two members of the mess committee tried to intervene, then they were assaulted as well.

“Around 7:30 pm, after prolonged arguments and vicious sloganeering, these goons started assaulting students again, first with their fists and kicks and then with various objects including rocks, bricks, flowerpots, rods and tubelights. Not a single student raised their hand to counter this violence, even when many were being injured….Even the cyclops security guards were assaulted by these goons, of which two received serious injuries,” it said.