JNU attack: Union minister calls for peace in campus; police forces deployed in UP universities

Union minister Sanjay Dhotre appealed for peace in the JNU campus and additional forces were deployed in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University, a day after brutal attack on students and teachers in JNU.

Mumbai/Varanasi: Minister of state for human resources development Sanjay Dhotre on Monday appealed that peace should be maintained in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, a day after violence at the varsity.

"I appeal to all groups that peace should be maintained in the campus. The opposition should also think before speaking on such sensitive matters. Allegations and counter-allegations will not solve the issue," he said. Stressing that yesterday's incident at JNU was painful, the Union minister said it is a black spot on the university's prestige.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered JNU and attacked them and some professors with sticks and rods.

The JNU administration and leaders, cutting across political lines, had condemned the attack on students and urged the police to take action against the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, a day after the violence at JNU, police was put on alert in Uttar Pradesh and additional forces were deployed at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Additional forces were seen outside both the varsities. AMU public relation officer Omar Saleem Peerzada announced that the winter vacation of the varsity will be extended in view of the prevailing situation.