Police didn't arrest attacker even after I pointed him out in courtroom: Kanhaiya

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar has said Delhi police didn't arrest the person who assaulted him in the Patiala House Court premises even after he was identified by him.

In a video clip aired by television channels purportedly shows Kanhaiya, saying "They (mob) came till the gate of the court and one man came chasing after me to the next room and sat behind me. I told my teacher that this is the man who thrashed me. When the police asked that person for his identity he countered by asking the policeman to show his identity card."

"I told the police that this man had assaulted me, but he was not arrested and was let off," he added.

Kanhaiya further said he could identify the attacker because this person was the first one to attack him at the court gate.

"I was told that this person was removed from the courtroom on the direction of the high court authorities. He didn't pay heed to what the police said. This person left the court in front of the police and police didn't take any action," he added.

Narrating the whole episode to the Supreme Court panel Kanhaiya said police took him to the court premises, protecting him from media.

"Then a mob which wore lawyers robe, attacked me. It happened just after I entered the gate. It looked as if they were prepared to attack me on my arrival, because those who were beating me, were also calling on others to do the same. The place from where we enter the court, there is a machine, while pushing me through that machine my pants came off, I suffered injuries. They bashed me with punches and kicks to my stomach. I was beaten by one after the another lawyer," he described.

He further said he was almost disrobed during the entire violence.

The JNUSU president further said the lawyers also thrashed the police personnel escorting him.

"I was not able to see as to what the other policemen were doing, because I was knocked down and was beaten," he said.

Kanhaiya said he doubted whether people who had attacked him were lawyers, pointing out that they may be 'highly politically motivated persons'.

Kanhaiya's lawyer, Vrindra Grover, can also be seen in the video, claiming the police failure to protect his client from assault.

"When we were entering there was lot of sloganeering, we felt anxious and there was fear in us. I told police and the registrar general to ensure the safety of Kanhaiya as there was a hostile environment. Our phones were taken away, our identity cards were checked," Grover said.

"The man, who attacked Kanhaiya, came in the court and left the court. I repeatedly made appeals to police to put security for Kanhaiya, but they didn't do that. They kept nodding and didn't provide security. The senior most police personnel allow him to go and later they come and tell us that they don't know who that person was," she added.

In the video, lawyer Kapil Sibal asked Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District) Jatin Narwal as to why police didn't arrest the person Kanhaiya identified.

"When they came to you and told that this person was beating Kanhaiya, why didn't you arrest him? How did you let the attack take place in the court premises? The person who didn't even wear a black coat, how could you allow him to enter the courtroom? When Kanhaiya pointed out that person why didn't you arrest that person?" Sibal asked.

"I immediately rushed as I didn't know; this was the person who had attacked Kanhaiya," DCP Narwal said.