JNU: Disabled PhD scholar assaulted by ABVP members, NSUI demands justice

Farooque Alam — the disabled PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) whom the ABVP members allegedly thrashed on Wednesday, 6 September — is a victim of 'communal politics", alleged the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the Indian National Congress's student outfit.

The AVBP activists thrashed Alam, after he objected to his forceful eviction from his Kaveri hostel room, where he has been living for the last 12 years, despite the matter being subjudice.

"Alam tried to argue with the warden... He was attacked by the ABVP members at the behest of the warden, following which he fell unconscious. We are taking him to Safdarjung Hospital," said Sudhanshu Sekhar, president of JNU's wing of the NSUI, in a video message recorded in the ambulance with the still-unconscious Alam en route to hospital.

Later issuing a formal statement, the NSUI said:

The incident, which has raised questions about communal politics on campus, has garnered widespread attention.

According to the NSUI members, Alam’s name was included in the 'target list' prepared by the right-wing student organisation for “his views and his religious identity”.

The situation worsened for Alam after he wrote a Facebook post against the dean of students's welfare (DSW) Umesh Kadamb, claimed NSUI activists. A proctorial inquiry was launched after Kaveri Kadamb, wife of Umesh Kadamb, complained against Alam.

Alam was also dragged into a controversy related to the fee hike protest in 2019.

He has been subjected to harrassment and has been facing intimidation since then. “He was asked to leave the hostel by the administration and barred from entering the campus. He was fined Rs 10,000 for violating discipline,” added Sekhar.

However, Alam challenged the eviction order in Delhi High Court.

Represented by Congress leader and senior advocate Salman Khursheed, Alam pleaded that he can’t vacate the hostel room as he does not have any other accommodation in Delhi.

The case is still in court. Despite this, “JNU administration controlled by the RSS-minded people” forced Alam to vacate the room, sources said.

Adding that the ABVP members and security guards both attacked Alam and the NSUI members who were opposing the eviction, the NSUI said, “When the residents of the hostel, as well as other NSUI activists, tried to intervene in the situation, they were brutally manhandled and asked to leave because they were not the residents of Kaveri hostel.”

A native of Katihar, Bihar, Alam has been active in student politics ever since he joined the university. He had contested the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) elections in 2017 for the post of President.

Demanding a stay on the eviction process until the high court rules on the matter, the NSUI's JNU unit also demanded "severe punishment for ABVP members involved in manhandling other students present at the site to intervene".