Women's Panel Orders Probe Into Police Lathicharge At JNU March

After the JNU Long March on March 23 when Delhi Police lathicharged the students and a few journalists, the National Commission for Women has ordered an investigation into the matter.

"We have ordered an investigation and sent a team to meet the police officers. We will pursue the matter further," said NCW acting chairperson Rekha Sharma.

JNU Student’s Union (JNUSU) and Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) had organised the march to reclaim academic freedom in the university, compulsory attendance row and demand suspension of Professor Atul Johri from the campus.

But the protest turned distasteful after the Delhi Police started beating up the students and launched water cannons to disrupt the march near Sanjay Jheel in Laxmi Bai Nagar.

JNU Student’s Union (JNUSU) and Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) had organised the march to reclaim academic freedom in the university, compulsory attendance row and demand suspension of Professor Atul Johri from the campus

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The police also snatched cameras of a few journalists who were covering the march. One journalist specifically accused the SHO of Delhi cantonment of pushing and molestation. Two FIRs have been lodged in this matter. While the Delhi Police released an apology for beating up the journalists and snatching their equipment on Twitter, it also released a video which shows students beating up one of the police officers.

JNU is in the middle of several controversies. Students have accused one of its School of Life Sciences professor, Atul Johri, of sexually harassing girls in his class. The Delhi Police was initially reluctant to file the FIR against the professor by seven JNU students on March 17. Since then students are protesting against the Delhi Police and the JNU administration.

Delhi police recently arrested Johri and produced him in the Patiala court. However, but the same court granted him bail in less than an hour.

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