JNU violence on Sunday, January 5, 2019, shook the nation as ABVP stormed the university campus vandalising property and injuring teachers and students in a shocking attack. The goons from the RSS-linked student union allegedly stormed JNU while Delhi Police stood guard. As the news broke, it sparked student protests all over the nation. Reports of the attackers caught on camera began doing the rounds of the internet and some of the ABVP members are being identified. ABVP Delhi’s Joint Secretary Amina Sonkar in a televised discussion with Times Now admitted that the group was armed and cited “self-defence” as the reason for it.

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The attacks on JNU’s campus and hostels was heavily covered on social media with videos and pictures of the brutality making their way on the news feed. So far the suspects remained unidentified in videos showcasing them carrying rods. Now, Sonkar’s statement on national television has confirmed that ABVP members were asked to step out with rods and acid for “self-defence” on a WhatsApp group. She also read out messages from the group chat claiming that “everyone” needs to be armed before heading out to JNU. Check out the video here:

#JNUHiddenTruth | Listen in: ABVP Delhi State Jt Secretary ‘explains’ the video of alleged ABVP violence in JNU. | @thenewshour AGENDA with Padmaja Joshi. pic.twitter.com/eiYgZIn531 — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 6, 2020

The confirmation came in a series of contradictory statements.

“In all the WhatsApp groups, so much panic was spread, so many threatening calls were given... that whenever you are stepping out, step out in groups, step out while you have rods... whatever you get handy, pepper spray, somebody has acid. I have not even heard or seen any case of acid attack or something!” - Amina Sonkar (via Times Now)

On being quizzed further, she revealed that Vikas Patel is an ABVP activist but refused to confirm his part in the JNU clash. She maintained that the arms were carried solely for self-defence.

“Yes, Vikas Patel is our activist. I am not disowning… It’s self-defence, complete self-defence.” - Amina Sonkar (via Times Now)

Anima’s statements provide a rather flimsy cover for the disturbing events of Sunday evening. Since then, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh has two FIRs to her name, protests are being held in several parts of the country and updates of the police investigation on the subject are pending.

When you’re here, check out our first-hand account of what it’s like at Mumbai’s spontaneous “occupy Gateway” protest.

'Occupy Gateway': A First-Hand Account of Mumbai Anti-CAA Protests At The Gateway of India

Cover image: Twitter