Students, human rights activists and family members of Najeeb Ahmed staged a huge protest in front of Delhi Police Headquarters on 28 October over police inaction in the disappearance of Najeeb from JNU hostel since 14 October. The protestors demanded proper investigation and necessary action to find out Najeeb who has gone missing after he was assaulted allegedly by ABVP activists.
Students with placards in their hands and shouting slogans marched towards the police headquarters but the police barricaded to stop them from moving further. Then the students blocked the road in front of police headquarters for more than two hours. There were incidents of a minor scuffle between the police and protestors when they were trying to break the barricade but JNU Students Union President Mohit Pandey asked the students to protest peacefully.
Gautam Navlakha, a renowned journalist and human rights activist, who was there ‘to express solidarity with the protestors’, told Radiance that the protestors were protesting there against the irresponsible behaviour of Delhi Police in the follow-up of missing student’s case. “Little hope is left for Delhi Police in this case because they are doing everything under the pressure of RSS and the BJP. Delhi Police are saying they are helpless. I know they will not do anything unless and until they get orders from the top.”
On 16 October, the family of Najeeb had lodged an FIR in the local police station. On 20 October, the Delhi Police on the instruction of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh set up an SIT to investigate the case but so far they have not been able to find any clue. When reporters asked Najeeb’s mother whether she was satisfied with the investigation carried out so far, she said they were completely not satisfied. “Fifteen days have passed by and the Delhi police have not found a single clue,” she said. Najeeb’s sister, who was also there, replied, “We don’t know why and under whose pressure they are doing this. I have lost my brother and the police should find him out.”
One of the protestors, Abhay Kumar, doing PhD at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, while speaking to Radiance, said JNU is known to be a secular institution and from there Najeeb has been missing or kidnapped. This has created a sense of fear among students particularly minority students. “If the students of JNU are not safe, where will they be? This question is haunting and administration is maintaining criminal silence and not taking appropriate action against the culprits of ABVP. It shows that the administration is working on behalf of RSS and the right wing government. Against that nexus and to get justice for Najeeb, students are protesting here and this protest has to be intensified because such a pattern of attacking minorities and marginalised and weaker sections is dangerous and unacceptable,” said Kumar.
Another student body, Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), was also part of the protest. Laeeq Ahmed Khan, who is national secretary of SIO, said since the incident took place on 14 October Delhi Police instead of taking action against all those who assaulted and tried to lynch Najeeb are trying to make Najeeb an accused in the case. This is not the right direction of the investigation. The police were also not willing to incorporate the names of assaulters in the FIR filed by Najeeb’s mother. We demand immediate arrest of all those who have assaulted or tried to lynch Najeeb because there is possibility that these students are behind Najeeb’s disappearance.”
“It is indeed unfortunate that both the JNU administration and the Delhi Police have been remarkably irresponsible and insensitive, refusing to take even the basic steps necessary to locate Najeeb. No action whatsoever is being taken against those ABVP activists who publicly beat up Najeeb before he became untraceable,” said JNUSU in its memorandum to Delhi Police Commissioner. The delegation was led by JNU president and JNUSU office-bearers, namely Vice-President Amal, General Secretary Satarupa, and Joint Secretary Tabrez. The delegation submitted a memorandum to R.P. Upadhyay, Joint Commissioner, South Range, and demanded thorough search of the forest in the JNU, and examination of video recordings of nearby metro stations.
After submitting the memorandum, JNU president, Mohit Pandey, while addressing the protestors said today we have blocked the road at ITO and if the need arises we will do it again at other places as well. Many more are still waiting to join us. We will not tolerate such gross dereliction of duty and inaction of Delhi Police. They are making statements that they have sent a team to find out Najeeb here and there but doing nothing. If the police fail to do their duties and responsibilities, we will not let them go so easily and continue to protest and raise our voice. He also informed the reporters that students will help police while searching hostels and campus.