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Indian police arrest student leader on sedition charges

Xinhua, February 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Indian police have arrested a student leader of a prestigious university in the capital city of New Delhi on charges of sedition.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar facing charges of "sedition" and "conspiracy for an anti India event" Friday was remanded to three day police custody by a local court.

Police told the court they want to ascertain alleged links of Kumar and his associates with terrorist groups, an allegation strongly denied by Kumar.

A group of students on Tuesday held an event on the campus to mark the third death anniversary of 2001 Indian parliament attack convict Mohammed Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri.

During the event students allegedly criticised Indian government for hanging Guru and shouted anti-India slogans.

Police have detained several students and are searching for more in connection with the case.

The teachers association at the university termed the police action as excessive and uncalled for. The association demanded immediate release of all the detainees by the police.

Tuesday's event at the university however has angered Indian politicians from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its students wing.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said strict action would be taken against those who raised anti-India slogans on the campus. The minister said he has given necessary instructions to Delhi police commissioner to inquire the incident.

On Thursday, a lawmaker from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Mahensh Giri and rightwing Hindu nationalist students union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) filed a report with police against the university students.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has condemned the arrest of students.

"What is happening in JNU? Police on campus, arrests and picking up students from hostels. This had last happened during Emergency," Yechury wrote on twitter.

Meanwhile, the university has set up a committee to investigate the matter. A statement from university vice chancellor Professor M Jagdesh Kumar condemned the use of university as a platform for activities that according to him violate the constitution and laws of India. Endit