More students have come forward to register sexual harassment complaints against Atul Johri, taking the total number of students to nine. The JNU student population along with several members of the faculty have demanded the removal of the accused, Johri but the administration has not taken any steps to remove him from his post. The students have not failed to occupy the social media space too in order to get their voices heard - on Sunday evening, #SuspendJohri was trending on Twitter as well.
The professor has been charged under IPC 354 and 509 but there has been no arrest despite it being two days since the FIR was filed. Many of the protesting students are claiming that the University is willfully shielding the professor because of his close association with the Vice Chancellor.
In a press release by the JNU administration, it is stated that at the request of some female students, top officials met with the students to discuss their grievances. But the release goes on to complain about the sloganeering students who entered the administrative block on campus despite a Delhi Court ruling that has banned students from doing so. This hasn't sat well with students who are aghast by the fact that the University is more concerned about these rules than about the sexual harassment cases.
The students also claim that they have no trust in the Internal Complaints Committee, "By promising to take up investigation through the ICC the JNU admin has clearly shown its intention to provide a safe passage to Johri. The ICC is packed with people who are close to Johri and the administration is leaving no stone unturned to protect and shield him. Our demand is simple he should be immediately suspended from all academic and administrative duties. Also, if he has resigned from administrative posts then he should immediately vacate the warden's flat as well," a JNU student said.
The students are also blaming the police for not taking the complaints seriously,"This delay in recording statements is a clear sign of the lackadaisical attitude of Delhi Police towards the case and shows the nexus of the police and administration. In the case of Kanhaiya Kumar he was arrested within 24 hours of FIR being filed then why wait to arrest Johri?"
The protests will continue till the professor steps down from all posts, the students said.
