Kanhaiya Kumar is rushed to AIIMS, critical

JNU Students Union chief Kanhaiya Kumar, who is on an indefinite hungerstrike, was on Thursday taken to AIIMS after his health condition deteriorated even as five students withdrew from the ongoing fast against punishments by the university in connection with the February 9 event.

Mr Kumar, who was also arrested in a sedition case over the event, was taken to the JNU health centre in a semi-conscious state. However, his health deteriorated later and he was referred to emergency ward of AIIMS.

“Kanhaiya’s BP dropped to 56 and his glucose levels also dipped drastically. He has been vomitting since Wednesday night. He was taken to the JNU health centre in a semi-conscious state and the doctor warned him of chances of internal bleeding if he continues with the fast,” a statement by JNU Students’ Union said.

“Since he has refused to call off the fast, he was being administered saline drip. Kanhaiya has been referred to AIIMS. We are very concerned about his health.”

On Day 8 of the hungerstrike in protest against the punishment for organising the controversial event, five students withdrew from the protest citing deteriorating health conditions.

The keytone levels and BP of other protesting students were also reported to be low, according to the test reports from the health centre.

“The health condition of others is also deteriorating. The keytone levels are low and there has been weight loss of 4-5 kgs in each of them but the spirit to fight is still on till we defeat the administration,” it added.

A total of 25 students were on hungerstrike since last Thursday. While five members of the ABVP called off their fast on Wednesday, claiming they have an assurance from the JNU administration about consideration of their demands, five members of the Left-affiliated groups withdrew from the hungerstrike due to health condition.

Meanwhile, a leader of UP Navnirman Sena, who is absconding in a case relating to conspiracy to kill Mr Kumar, was on Thursday denied anticipatory bail by the Delhi high court.

Justice Pratibha Rani declined to grant relief to accused Amit Jani, saying his alleged role in the incident in which a loaded pistol and a letter threatening to kill Mr Kumar and fellow Ph.D. student Umar Khalid, who were arrested under sedition charges over the controversial JNU event, were recovered from a bag in a DTC bus and needs to be investigated by the police.

“No anticipatory bail at this stage. Arms were recovered from the bag and it needs to be investigated by the police,” the court said. The court was hearing the anticipatory bail filed by Jani, who claimed that he was falsely implicated by the police as he had not written any letter threatening to behead the two.