Remarks don’t warrant charge of sedition: JNUTA on Sharjeel Elaborate arrangements for Beating Retreat ceremony Man held for pelting stones at cops and SDM of Jewar

NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) on Tuesday expressed concern over the arrest of the university student Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on Monday, adding that the remarks do not “warrant a charge of sedition”.

“The JNUTA expresses its concern at the arrest of a student of the University on the charge of sedition. The JNUTA notes that while there may be considerable scope for disagreement with the remarks allegedly made by the student, it has been persuasively argued by legal experts that these remarks do not warrant a charge of sedition and there are other reasons behind the sedition law being invoked,” said JNUTA in a statement.

They added that the continuation of the “colonial-era law on sedition” has been subjected to questioning due to its “rampant misuse by governments to curb dissent”.

“The JNUTA also notes that the circumstances which forced the student to surrender before the Police today reflects the extreme politicization of the conduct of law enforcement agencies, which leads to great unevenness in the application of the law,” it added.

The teachers association also called out Delhi Police for not mking any arrest in January 5 violence that took place inside the campus.

“More than three weeks have passed since teachers and students were attacked by a masked mob but not a single arrest has been made so far. Not even one of the several complaints filed by teachers who were victims of the violence has been converted into a FIR,” they said.

“Clearly, law ‘enforcement' is being given a new meaning by the Police which doesn't augur well for the health of India's democracy,” it said.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi police on Tuesday issued a traffic advisory for the Beating Retreat ceremony going to be held at Vijay Chowk on January 29. According to Delhi Police, they have made elaborate arrangements for the Beating Retreat Ceremony and illumination of Rashtrapati Bhawan, North Block, South Block, and Parliament House.

Police said Vijay Chowk will remain closed for general traffic. The traffic restrictions will be put in place on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m to 9:30 p.m.

Other than this traffic will be restricted in Rafi Marg between Sunehri Masjid and Krishi

Bhawan, Raisina Road from Krishi Bhawan towards Vijay Chowk, Beyond Darashikoh Road, Krishna Menon Marg and Sunehri Masjid towards Vijay Chowk. "Rajpath between Vijay Chowk and “C” – Hexagon which will be pedestrianized," police said. "General public and motorists can take alternate routes from Ring Road, Ridge Road, Aurobindo Marg, Madarsa ‘T' Point, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Rani Jhansi Road, Minto Road, " police said. Metro services will also be hit as the entry and exit will remain closed at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan from 2 pm to 6.30 pm.

GREATER NOIDA: Gautam Buddh Nagar police have arrested one person among the 34 farmers who were named in an FIR for pelting stone on police and administrative officials in which SDM Jewar along with a few other cops were injured when they had gone to Rohi village for land acquisition and providing compensation to farmers for Jewar airport on Monday.

According to police, the arrested peron has been identified as Ravi Sharma, a native of Danayatpur village in Jewar area.

On Monday morning, the district administration has set up a camp in Rohi village to provide compensation to farmers, lands of whose was acquired for the construction of Jewar Green Field airport. However, some disgruntled elements who are already contesting their case in High Court for increased compensation and were not the owners of land which was being transferred during the camp resorted to stone pelting.

During the stone pelting incident SDM Gunja Singh, and five other cops sustained injuries. Those pelting stones also vandalised a few cars. Immediately the local public and police force from Jewar area came to the spot and pacified them.

“Following the incident, a complaint was received at Jewar police station naming 34 persons and 25 unidentified. An FIR under IPC sections of rioting and other relevant sections was registered. Police checked CCTV footage of the area and identified an accused who was arrested on early Tuesday morning. We are looking for other persons who have been booked and more arrests in the case will be made soon,” said Rajesh Kumar Singh, DCP, GB Nagar.