JNU Student s Union leader held on sedition charge

New Delhi, Feb 12 Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was on Friday arrested in a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy, police said.

Kumar was arrested on charge of raising anti-India slogans at an event organised by the students to mark the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, who was hanged in the Tihar Central Jail here on February 9, 2013.

The JNU leader was arrested from a hostel on the JNU campus by Vasant Kunj north police in south Delhi, hours after union Home Minister Rajnath Singh called for action against 'anti-national' elements. 

Police claimed Kumar was seen in a video, in which people were seen raising anti-national slogans.

On Thursday, police registered a case on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy against "unknown students" following complaints by Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha member Maheish Girri and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students organisation associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 

The university witnessed violence between two student groups on Tuesday night over the holding of an event after which police were deployed to maintain law and order.

Anti-India slogans were raised at the event. The JNU authorities have already instituted an inquiry as to how did the event take place despite withdrawal of permission and said they will wait for the probe report before taking action.

Another meeting was held at the Press Club of India in Delhi on Wednesday where too anti-India slogans were raised and placards displayed.