Masked mob that attacked JNU not identified yet, but police know where they came from

Delhi Police says probe still on, 9 persons identified Friday were behind JNU campus violence on 3 and 4 January, when servers were broken.

JNU violence | PTI

New Delhi: The masked mob that attacked students and teachers of JNU on 5 January are yet to be identified by the Delhi Police, but it is suspected that many of them came from the city’s Bhogal and Ashram neighbourhoods, top police sources told ThePrint.

The police have records of over a dozen WhatsApp groups that were used to mobilise these masked miscreants, but despite some “strong leads”, none of them have been identified yet, the sources added.

The police also did not comment on if Sunday’s attackers were mobilised by the ABVP.

“We have leads that some people from these areas were there. We, however, are not sure if they belonged to a particular group. It is a matter of investigation and we are looking into it,” a senior police officer said.

The police also said that nine persons who were identified Friday are the ones who were behind the violence on the JNU campus on 3 and 4 January, when servers were broken.

The police claimed it was wrong to say that only students affiliated to Left groups were being targeted.

“Nine people who have been identified are mostly from the violence that happened on the campus on 3 and 4 January when servers were broken, CIS system was damaged. Two FIRs were also registered in this regard and students were named,” DCP Crime Branch, Joy Tirki said.

“The investigation is going on in a systematic manner and the ones who indulged in violence on 5 December too are being identified. We are working on it,” he added.

“This (Friday) press conference was conducted to give an update on the investigation until now and ensure that no misinformation is spread. We never said that we have concluded the investigation.”

Delhi Police chief Amulya Patnaik also said that the investigation is still on.

“Crime Branch is systematically proceeding with the investigation. Process of identification of people who unleashed violence on 5 December is earnestly in progress. All available pieces of evidence are being examined and technology is being used to take the investigation to a logical conclusion.”

‘Students who were attacked not available for probe’

Another police officer said the nine people were named as they could be identified based on the evidence available.

“The others who ran riot on the evening of 5 January have not been identified yet as the students who were attacked have gone back home and are not available to give any information,” said the second police officer, who did not wish to be identified.

“For those nine who have been identified and named, there are photos, footage available where they can be clearly seen from the two days that the servers were broken, also when they are entering Periyar hostel on 5 January. But for the armed miscreants who entered later, we need witnesses to give us more information,” the police officer added.

“Once those students who were attacked give their statements, it will help us identify them. We have leads that most of those students too were from JNU, as they went to specific rooms to attack people. They were well aware of the geography of the campus,” he added

He also said that the police have put up posters inside the campus and have urged students to come forward and give them information on the armed miscreants.

While no one has been detained so far, the police will send notices to the nine students and call them for questioning regarding the violence.

The police also talked about a WhatsApp group — ‘Unity against Left’ — and is probing its alleged involvement in the violence. Yogendra Bhardwaj is the admin of the group, said the police. While Bhardwaj is believed to be a member of the ABVP, the police did not confirm his affiliation.