New Delhi:
JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were on Wednesday sent to three days’ police remand by a city court, after their midnight surrender and subsequent arrest in a case of sedition.
The South Campus Police Station near JNU where they are being kept, was turned into a makeshift court room following a order by the Delhi High Court to “maintain confidentiality” during their remand proceedings.
“Umar and Anirban have been sent to three days’ custody,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Prem Nath told reporters tonight.
During the hearing, the police demanded seven days’ custody of the duo, who allegedly had organised a controversial event at the JNU on February 9 where anti-India slogans were said to have been raised.
Police has also applied for production of JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, also arrested on sedition charges, so that all the three students can be interrogated together.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court ordered to “maintain confidentiality” during the remand proceedings of Kumar, Umar and Anirban and directed the police to ensure that no one “suffers even a scratch” and there is no ruckus this time.
Lawyers had allegedly assaulted Kumar when he was brought to Patiala House Court for remand proceedings, in defiance of an Supreme Court order. Two days earlier, when Kumar was to be brought to the court, the same set of lawyers had thrashed journalists and JNU students and teachers.
The court order came during the hearing on Kumar’s bail plea after it was informed that the student leader and two arrested co-accused - Umar and Anirban - were apprehending threat to their safety and security during production before Patiala House courts for remand proceedings.
