It is over two days since the masked assailants ran riot on the JNU campus, but no arrests have been made so far as the police are still looking for vital clues.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday issued a public appeal seeking pictures, footage or any information related to about Sunday’s violence on JNU campus that left 34 people injured even as forensic teams looked for evidence. Teams from Physics, Chemistry and Biology divisions of the Forensic Science Laboratory were in the university, sources said. The Physics team will collect evidence such as rods and stones used by the masked mob to attack students and teachers at the university, while the Chemistry team will collect samples of chemicals, if there are any. The biology team will collect DNA samples, among other evidence.
Senior police officials said police teams are trying to identify the accused persons who were involved in the violence and once they are identified, legal action against them will follow.
Delhi Police’s Crime Branch issued a public appeal urging “all those who are witnesses to the incident or have any information about the incident or have captured any activity on their mobile phones or camera” to “come forward and give their statements/ footage/picture in their possession to the SIT”.
The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs in connection with vandalism at the server room of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). According to a senior police official, the FIRs were registered on the complaint of JNU administration on January 5. The JNU administration had given the names of students union office bearers, including its president Aishe Gosh, in connection with the vandalism in the server room but police have not put her name or that of other students in the accused column of the FIRs.
One complaint was lodged on January 3 for switching off the server while another complaint was registered on January 4 for vandalising the server room, police said.
JNUSU vice-president Saket Moon alleged the administration is selectively targeting some students and denied any involvement in the vandalism of the server room.
The SIT is headed by Joy Tirkey, DCP Crime while Joint Commissioner of Police (Western Range) Shalini Singh is heading a fact-finding committee to probe the incident. She visited the JNU campus and spoke to students and teachers on Tuesday. The Joint CP visited all spots and interacted with the students.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police’s Crime Branch issued a public appeal urging “all those who are witnesses to the incident or have any information about the incident or have captured any activity on their mobile phones or camera” to “come forward and give their statements/footage/picture in their possession to the SIT”.
On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women’s hostel. Security has been strengthened in the campus following the violence. Police personnel in large numbers are present near various gates of the university to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
Police has barricaded the gates and only visitors with valid identity cards are being allowed entry. The Crime Branch, along with the local police team, had visited the campus on Monday to collect evidence, including CCTV footage. The agency is scanning all CCTV footage of the incident and also the video clips uploaded on social media and circulated on WhatsApp, according to police.
“The SIT is probing the case in a scientific and professional manner and evidence is being collected,” said Anil Mittal, Additional PRO of Delhi Police adding no arrest has been made so far as the investigation to identify the culprits is underway.
