Umar Khalid taken to AIIMS, withdraws hungerstrike

JNU student Umar Khalid, who has been on an indefinite hungerstrike since last 11 days, was taken to AIIMS early on Monday morning after his sugar, sodium and potassium levels reduced significantly.

Mr Khalid, who has been rusticated by the university for one semester for his involvement in the controversial February 9 event, also had to withdraw the hungerstrike due to bad health.

“Umar Khalid was forced to discontinue the hungerstrike owing to acutely failing health. He had severe cramps on Sunday evening because of low sodium-potassium levels in his blood following which he was taken to AIIMS post-midnight for saline drip,” a JNUSU statement said.

Seven students, including JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, have now withdrawn from the indefinite hungerstrike against the punishment by the varsity in connection with the controversial event. However, 13 other students are still continuing the hungerstrike which entered the 12th day on Monday.

Five ABVP members, including Saurabh Kumar Sharma, who were also on a hungerstrike, had last week called off their fast claiming they had an assurance from the JNU administration about consideration of their demands.

Meanwhile, JNU Teachers Association, university alumni and mothers residing on the campus have also come out in solidarity with the fasting students by going on a one-day relay hungerstrike. The university administration has appealed to the students not to invite outsiders on the campus and resort to “constitutional” means of putting forward their demands.