Home Minister asks police to set up special team to trace JNU student

The student, Najeeb Ahmed, went missing on Saturday following a brawl on the campus the night before.

New Delhi, Oct 20: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today directed the Delhi Police to set up a special team to trace a missing student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, where a section of students has been staging protest alleging inaction by authorities in the case.

Singh called up the Commissioner of Delhi Police and gave the instruction to set up the special team to find the missing student, a Home Ministry official said.

The student, Najeeb Ahmed, went missing on Saturday following a brawl on the campus the night before. Agitating JNU students have confined the Vice Chancellor, M Jagadesh Kumar, and about 12 other officials in the university's administrative building since yesterday afternoon though students and mediapersons have been able to access it.

Rejecting allegations of inaction, Kumar today said they had written to the police about the missing student and an inquiry by the university will be expedited and the "guilty" will be punished. Coming down heavily on protesting students, the VC warned of action against them.

He said that several rounds of talks were held with the students to convince them regarding the sincerity of the university to locate Najeeb but they were continuing with their "illegal" activity.

PTI