Police cover for Kanhaiya

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police provided round-the-clock security to JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar on his release on bail from Tihar Jail Thursday evening.

Though it was decided to give the student leader X-category security, but the security unit did not receive a formal order in the regard.

An officer from the security unit told HT, “The threat perception is high. It was decided that X-category would be provided but now we have received no word. The local police are handling his security.”

Kanhaiya was whisked away at 6.30 pm in a Xylo car from the gate of the residential quarters within the prison, to avoid the gathering outside gate four, said sources. An additional deputy commissioner-rank officer was also present to supervise his transfer from jail to the university.

Kanhaiya was first taken to the Hari Nagar police station from where senior police officers in three police vans escorted the Xylo car in which he was taken to the JNU campus. Sources said that an armed police officer was also inside car.

Policemen from the Vasant Vihar police station were told to be posted on the campus for his security. Further, cops in plain clothes will also be deployed on the campus, at the rallies he is likely to hold.

Sources in the jail said Kanhaiya, during his time in jail, expressed fears of being attacked outside the prison.

During his production at the Patiala House last month, lawyers attacked Kanhaiya and refused to let him leave the court complex. A lawyer was also caught in a sting operation boasting that he would use a petrol bomb to attack Kanhaiya and other students.