The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) marked the sixth anniversary of the January 5, 2020 attack on the JNU campus. The association issued a statement on this date. It recalled the assault on faculty and students. This event drew national and international attention at the time. JNUTA continues to demand accountability for the incident.
Accountability Demanded Six Years After JNU Campus Attack
JNUTA’s statement detailed unresolved issues stemming from the 2020 attack. It also highlighted ongoing legal and administrative challenges. The association maintains that the identities of those involved in the mob attack remain unknown. Those who encouraged the violence are also unidentified, according to JNUTA. The group points to failures by both the JNU administration and Delhi Police. JNUTA suggests these entities did not prevent the violence. It implies complicity in the events of that day.
The association specifically stated: "The identities of all those who participated in that mob attack armed with rods and stones, and those who encouraged and backed it, remain ‘masked’ to this day." This statement reinforces their call for transparency. It also emphasizes the perceived lack of justice. The incident reflects a pattern, JNUTA argues. This pattern involves selective enforcement of powers. Leniency is shown to individuals committing criminal acts. Concurrently, the rights of innocent people are suppressed.
Continued Incarceration and Unwavering Resolve
JNUTA also brought attention to the continued incarceration of two former students. These individuals have been denied bail for over five years. They remain imprisoned without trial. The association notes this situation adds to the ongoing legal and emotional challenges. It impacts the entire university community. This reinforces JNUTA’s demand for accountability and justice.
The association maintains that the January 5, 2020 assault failed to silence faculty or students. JNUTA members remain committed to resisting threats. They continue to defend the rights of the academic community. The statement underscores this ongoing commitment. The struggle against those responsible for the attack persists. JNUTA believes those who orchestrated or carried out the violence will eventually face accountability.
JNUTA concluded its statement with a firm resolve. It said: "Six years on, the struggle against the destruction of the University continues and the memories of that day serve to only strengthen our resolve. It is this struggle that will ensure that the day of reckoning of those who masterminded and carried out the attack on 5 January 2020 will come sooner or later. They are neither unknown, nor will they be forgotten."