Kanhaiya Kumar, the president of the students union at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, was attacked today by a person from outside the campus.
No details of the attacker has been made available, but according to sources, the attacker was not a student at the university. He is being held by campus security.
Kanhaiya Kumar has been attacked at least twice by people who call themselves patriotic (deshbhakt).
Many political outfits see Kanhaiya Kumar as a Leftist Liberal who is not ‘patriotic’ enough. Kanhaiya comes from a family that has traditionally supported the Communist Party of India, and is a member of the All India Students Federation or AISF.
The students’ leader hit national headlines when he was arrested by the Union Government last month.
According to subsequent information, Kumar had refused to stop a function that was being held in memory of Afzal Guru, who was hanged after being convicted in the 2001 Parliament Attack case.
A subsequent investigation found that the video in which Kumar was shown shouting slogans against India was not genuine. There were also reports that the Delhi Government could initiate criminal proceedings against the TV channels who broadcast the videos.
Kanhaiya was also beaten up in the court by ‘patriotic’ lawyers when he was presented before a magistrate.
Adarsh Sharma, who claims to be head of Purvanchal Sena — a political outfit with right of center views — was arrested earlier this week for bringing out posters announcing a prize of Rs 11 lakh for anyone who murders Kanhaiya.
The student leader is currently out on bail in a case of sedition filed by the Union of India.