The Patiala House Courts on Monday turned into a battleground as people in black coats ran riot attacking journalists, teachers and students who were standing in the vicinity of the court premises where the sedition case against Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar was to be heard.
Violence broke out when a group of lawyers objected to the presence of mediapersons on courts’ complex. The posse of reporters from print and electronic media was covering the hearing of the case.
The lawyers chanting ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ and Vande Mataram chased and thrashed all those who they found in the vicinity. The Delhi Police personnel who were present in a large number remained mute spectators while the rampage was on.
Meanwhile, several journalist bodies on Monday condemned the attack on scribes and demanded strict action against the accused, while alleging dereliction of duty on part of the police. Patiala House Courts extended the custody of Kanhaiya Kumar by two days.
JNU students were also attacked by rampaging lawyers inside and outside a Patiala House court.
BJP MlA OP Sharma, who had come to Patiala House Courts to attend the hearing of the defamation case filed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley against Arvind Kejriwal, allegedly roughed up Ameeque Jamai, who is said to be a CPI activist.
The commotion began when a group of women teachers from the Delhi University and the JNU, including JNU senior professor Ayesha Kidwai, were sitting inside the courtroom to witness the proceedings when a group of lawyers started screaming at them for sitting on the chairs ‘reserved for lawyers’.
“You (JNU) produce anti-nationals and terrorists. You should get out of the country. long live India, shut down JNU,” they shouted and then pushed the students and teachers out.
Thereafter, the lawyers attacked the legal reporters who were there to cover the hearing, alleging that ‘media’ have been publishing ‘anti-India’ reports. They started checking the identity cards of the journalists and threatened the reporters to leave the court premised or face consequences. When the scribes confronted, they were beaten up.
“Keep your phone inside otherwise we will break it and your bones will be cracked…you people support JNU and we will not let you inside,” said one of the said-to-be lawyer who was a part of the hooliganism.
A journalist working in a prominent Hindi channel was beaten up right inside the courtroom when he confronted the lawyers stating that he is there to witness the court proceeding. The lawyers pulled him down on the floor of the courtroom and beat him up blue and black. The scribe has now registered a complaint in regard to this matter.
Another journalist working at a news agency, who was also beaten up, said, “I don’t know who hit me or why they hit me. I started to run from the courtroom. Fortunately, some lawyers who knew me protected me from further assault.”
Divya Darshan Sharma, Secretary Delhi Bar Association told The Pioneer that Bar Association condemns any anti-national activity and anti-national statements. Delhi Bar Association president RK Wadhwa, however, refused to comment on this issue saying that first they will look into the matter.
According to reports, the Bar Council of India has taken cognizance of the incident and stated that action will be taken against accused lawyers.
Amid the brawl, the JNU teachers’ association (JNUTA) said that they “fear” for Kanhaiya’s life. The teachers joined the students’ strike on Tuesday while they alleged “sexual harassment” inside the Patiala House Courts. Senior professor at JNU Ayesha Kidwai said that the way mob who claimed to be lawyers attacked them inside the courtroom was enough indication that Kanhaiya’s life is in “danger”.
JNU administration also sent a “status” report to the HRD Ministry about the situation in the campus and the action taken by the varsity in connection with an event against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, during which anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.