This Article is From Feb 16, 2016

JNU Row: Charges Of Police Inaction During Scuffle Being Probed, Says Top Cop

JNU Row: Charges Of Police Inaction During Scuffle Being Probed, Says Top Cop

About OP Sharma's involvement, BS Bassi said both parties in the matter were taken for medical examination and have given their statements to the police.

New Delhi: Under mounting attack over police inaction when journalists and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students were being thrashed in a court complex, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi today said the alleged negligence is being probed and the guilty will face legal action.

Asked why policemen present at the Patiala House Court did not intervene when the assault was going on, he only said the issue pertains to people from "two different lines of thought" confronting each other in a charged environment.

When pressed further, Mr Bassi said, "In the investigation, we will also probe whether there was any negligence on part of any police personnel. If it turns out to be so, the concerned official will have to face legal action."

The top cop had yesterday termed the assault as a "minor" incident, saying it was fallout of an emotive issue, comments which evoked strong reaction from journalists and JNU students.

Yesterday, groups of lawyers had beaten up journalists and JNU students and teachers in the Patiala House court complex ahead of the hearing of the sedition case registered against JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with an event at the university last week to protest hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Delhi BJP legislator OP Sharma was also seen beating up a CPI activist.

Asked why Mr Sharma has not been booked when he was caught on camera assaulting a man, Mr Bassi said, "Whoever is found guilty during investigation, will have to face legal action.

"As soon as I got to know about the scuffle, particularly with journalists, I asked my officers to register a case and instructed the concerned DCP to expedite the investigation," the Police Commissioner said on the sidelines of the 69th Raising Day Parade of Delhi Police.

About Mr Sharma's involvement, Mr Bassi said both parties in the matter were taken for medical examination and they have given their statements to the police.

The police have obtained several video grabs and a separate team has been constituted to identify the accused persons.

In the morning, a group of journalists went to the police and claimed to have identified one of those who had assaulted them. Police said identity of the man is being ascertained.

Two First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered last night in connection with the attacks on journalists and students and teachers of JNU.

"The FIRs have been registered against unnamed persons under relevant Sections of the IPC," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said, adding, police registered both cases taking suo motu cognizance of the entire episode.

Several complaints were received by police at three different police stations in New Delhi district relating to the assault.

While the first case specifically relates to the scuffle that took place inside the premises of the court, the second was registered for the brawl between the BJP legislator and CPI activist Ameeque Jamai outside Gate number 2 of the court.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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