Several JNU students yet to return to hostels

hostels at Jawaharlal Nehru University wear a deserted look as many students who have left following Sunday's mob attack have t returned yet.

students also stepped up ir demand for sacking of Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar.

"What has happened is wrong. But I will stay here," said Sarojini, a student from Nerlands, who has been in university for four-and-a-half years.

"re is fear among students, but I am t going anywhere. If re is someone who has to go, it is VC," Sarojini said.

Most of injured students are again back at campus, but some have left fearing a fresh bout of violence. A few returned to ir rooms, only to find m vandalised.

Ajay, a resident of Sabarmati hostel, said only 10 students were present in boys' wing on Monday night. "Students are scared and have gone back home," he said.

"Seven to eight of my friends received calls from ir home after Sunday's incident," ar resident of hostel said. "y were asked to immediately come back as situation is t conducive. y gave gone back and we do t kw when y will return."

A woman student, requesting anymity, said: "A friend of mine, who is from a foreign country, returned to his hostel room, only to find it vandalised. He left hostel with his belongings and is staying at embassy."

Ar student said students were under immense pressure to get back to ir homes.

"y have this feeling that we will be killed here. But we have somehow withstood pressure. We hope our friends also come back," resident of Sabarmati said.

Jyoti said re were almost 250 students in hostel, but only 100 were remaining.

"Many of women students who are residents of Sabarmati Hostel, which suffered maximum dam during attack, have left eir for ir friends' homes outside campus or for ir own home," a student said. "Rest of places re is t much impact."

After violence, JNU students received overwhelming support from several quarters and across country and world.

On Tuesday, a march was organised to show solidarity with fellow students, while alumni like CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar also addressed a garing.

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone was also at varsity to express solidarity with students.

Addressing students at university, Yechury sought to kw why FIRs were registered against JNU students' union president Aishe Ghosh and alleged y were filed as afterthought.

"We are defending Constitution, and if re is any anti-national, it is government which is trying to destroy Constitution," Yechury said.

Former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar said whenever he was called leader of "tukde tukde gang", he takes it as an hour.

"JNU always talks about issues that are t even reported. government is making a mistake. y have chosen an enemy that is intelligent and studious," Kumar said.