Afzal Guru row: Suspended JNU student finds no mention in probe report

New Delhi, March 17: JNU student Aishwarya Adhikari, was suspended and has been served a show-cause notice in connection with the Afzal Guru row, but her name doesn't figure in the varsity's high-level probe committee's report.

This "discrepancy" has irked students and the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) who have termed the enquiry as "undemocratic" one and have refused to accept its findings.

Adhikari, an MA student and elected member of the varsity's Gender Sensitisation Committee against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) committee, is among the eight students who were debarred by the university after a preliminary report of the probe panel found them "guilty".

Their suspension was revoked on March 11 after the panel had submitted its report on the controversial event on campus against hanging of Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

"From the very beginning, we have had objections with setting up as well as the functioning of the committee. A preliminary report finds me guilty, I am suspended. Then I am also served a show-cause which asks me to explain why I should not be punished.

"But then my name is no where in the probe report findings. What is my crime then? What am I supposed to explain? This undemocratic enquiry's report is full of weird surprises. They are even finding people guilty of standing in proximity with certain people. What a crime to commit!," she said.

After the five-member panel of the university, found them "guilty" of "violating university norms and discipline rules" show-cause notices were issued to 21 students on March 14 asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them.

The report of the five-member panel has pointed out lapses on part of the students as well as the administration. Taking into account the role of outsiders in the controversial event, the university panel has found Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya "guilty" of arousing communal, caste or regional feeling or creating disharmony among students.

While no specific charges have been pointed out against students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is facing sedition charges in connection with the event, the university has found ABVP member Saurabh Sharma "guilty" of blocking traffic on February 9, the day of the controversial event.

The students have time till tomorrow to reply to the show-cause notice, following which the university will take a final decision on the "quantum of punishment" for the students.

PTI