India, student leader charged with sedition released on bail. He was “framed”
Kanhaiya Kumar was released yesterday after his family paid 150 Euros bail. The young man on probation for six months. He had been arrested for having chanted anti-nationalist slogans. In recent days, however, it was found that some video that "framed" him have been tampered with. His supporters say that freedom of expression is at risk in India.
New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Delhi High Court has released a student leader accused of "sedition”, Kanhaiya Kumar on bail. Yesterday evening the courts have determined that the student will spend a period of six months on probation and set a bail of 10 thousand rupees (about 150 euro).
The young man in recent weeks has been at the center of the political scene in India, causing a heated debate between supporters of the nationalist policies of the Narendra Modi government and those who support freedom of expression and democracy. Immediately after his release, his mother said: "This is a victory. My son was framed. "
Kumar was arrested in early February following an event organized by the students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), of which he is the leader, to commemorate the third anniversary of the killing of Mohammed Afzal Guru. The latter was hanged in 2013 on charges of having participated in an attack on the Indian Parliament made in 2001 by Kashmiri separatists, which left 14 victims. Guru always maintained his innocence.
The news of Kumar’s arrest sparked protests by thousands of students and teachers in over 40 Indian universities, who disrupted lessons and took to the streets in defense of freedom of thought.
From the beginning the story appeared intricate, with Hindu radicals who accused the JNU protesters of having chanted anti-nationalist slogans. The protests took a violent tone when some lawyers attacked Kumar and journalists as the student was being brought to court for interrogation. Now the lawyers have been suspended and even the police are under fire for having stood silently by in the face of aggression.
In recent days, it was then established that two of the seven videos produced by the police, which apparently show students singing the slogans, were tampered with. The very same videos were used to trap Kumar.
Given the latest developments, the leader was released but two other students are still awaiting trial. Kumar's father said: "My son has been accused of sedition because his opponents have conspired against him. I advised him to continue to be a good human being and remain true to his principles".
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18/02/2016 11:13
