Attack on Kanhaiya organised, says NHRC

NEW DELHI: A probe team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday said the physical assault on JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar in the court premises appeared to have been “organised and preplanned”.

It also said Kumar was subjected to psychological pressure and was made to issue a statement before he appeared in the court, owing allegiance to Constitution which was dictated by the police. The statement was later tweeted by Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi.

“Kanhaiya Kumar was abused and physically assaulted by some persons dressed as advocates in the Patiala House court premises on February 17. He was even physically assaulted inside the adjoining court room in the presence of police who did not do anything to prevent the assault or apprehend the attackers even though they were identified by Kanhaiya Kumar then and there,” a report submitted to the

A FACT-FINDING TEAM OF HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL SAY POLICE FAILED TO PROVIDE SAFETY TO THE JNU STUDENT LEADER AT PATIALA HOUSE

NHRC by a fact-finding team of the commission said.

The NHRC team said what happened in the Patiala House court complex on Wednesday was a major security lapse on the part of the police.

“There was serious dereliction of duty on the part of the police. Going by the sequence of events, the safety and security of Kanhaiya and his family members is a serious cause of concern,” the committee said.

In a damning indictment of the police, it said the statement which was issued by the force as an appeal on behalf of Kumar was not written by him voluntarily. “The content, construction and framework of the statement were as dictated by the police.”