NEW DELHI — The disappearance of a student from the premise of a leading Indian university for almost two weeks remains shrouded in mystery.
Najeeb Ahmad, a postgraduate student of microbiology at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), went missing from the campus more than 10 days ago after a brawl between rival student groups.
Tensions have been mounting in the campus ever since with many students accusing the university administration of criminal negligence over the issue.
The prestigious university, situated at the heart of the capital city of New Delhi, has been in the eye of a political storm in the recent past when five of its students were arrested on sedition charges. They are now out on bail.
Ahmed, was reportedly involved in an altercation on the night of Oct. 14 with a group of students affiliated to the right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) who were campaigning for hostel elections. He went missing the following day.
However, a lot of his personal belongings like his mobile phone, wallet and clothes were left behind in his room.
The left-wing All India Students’ Association (AISA) has taken out several protest marches inside and outside the university, saying that “JNU authorities haven’t done enough to find Najeeb”.
Some students formed a human chain, which was joined by the JNU Teachers’ Association, inside the campus on Oct. 23 to protest against the university administration, while others formed a blockade outside the vice chancellor’s residence.
ABVP and AISA have their own versions of what actually happened the night before Ahmed went missing.
Ahmed’s mother, Fatima Nafees, has filed a police complaint about her son’s disappearance.
Meanwhile, in another incident a research scholar from Manipur was found dead in his hostel room in JNU on Tuesday.
The deceased scholar from Manipur, Jatung Philemon Raja, was found lying lifeless in his hostel room when some students sensed suspicion after the deceased was nowhere seen for three days and from a stench coming from his room.
“His room had been locked for two days. His phone kept ringing and no one answered,” said one student. — Agencies
