Senior IPS officer Alok Kumar Verma will be the new Police Commissioner of Delhi, succeeding B S Bassi who retires on February 29. 

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today issued an order appointing 58-year-old Verma, a 1979-batch Union Territory cadre officer, as the top police officer of the national capital. Verma is currently serving as DG of Tihar prison. 

"Alok Kumar Verma will assume office as Police Commissioner, Delhi, on retirement of Bhim Sain Bassi on February 29, 2016," the LG's office said in a statement. He will have a tenure of 17 months.

An official said that the order was issued by the Delhi Home Department in the name of the Lt Governor in pursuance of the order of the Union Home Ministry dated February 17. 

The death of 10 Indian soldiers in an avalanche on Siachen has put the focus back on what is dubbed the world's highest battlefield where India and Pakistan stand eyeball to eyeball in the Himalayan heights. The two neighbours have been discussing this glacier in their talks but, point out Howard and Teresita Schaffer in southasiahand.com, 'progress is unlikely' when and if the two countries sit down to talk again.  

That Times Now, which has been flooding the airwaves with its 'We Changed the News' ads of late, has been attracting a lot of flak over its coverage of the JNU protests.   

Nishita Jha tweets this picture of a placard at Mandi House. Thousands of students from JNU, DU and other colleges in Delhi went on a march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar protesting the JNU violence and the arrest of JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar. 

Folk singer Kovan and over 50 others were detained by the police in Chennai today for protesting against the arrest of JNU students' union leader Kanhaiya Kumar on the charge of sedition.


Kovan, who had earlier been arrested by the state government on similar charges, and 57 others, were held for protesting near the Shastri Bhavan, housing central government offices, police said.


The protestors, who raised slogans against the BJP-led government at Centre, demanded the release of Kumar, they said.

Just in: The HRD ministry has mandated that the national flag should fly prominently at all central universities. The first such flag will be unfurled at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, which is on the boil over the arrest of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar for alleged anti-India demonstrations and sloganeering.


The decision on the flag was taken at a meeting of all central university vice-chancellors called by Human Resource Development minister Smriti Irani. The flag has to be hoised on a 207-feet high pole in all central universities across India.


Pic: The tricolour flies at the Supreme Court

"Both sides were positive", says BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on his meeting with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar yesterday. "We are looking at developments in positive light, no timeline as such," he said when asked about the J&K Govt formation.

An aid worker whose rescue of an emaciated two-year-old boy made headlines around the world has spoken about how she gave up everything in Denmark to help "the witch children of Nigeria". Read

Just in: BJP moves Calcutta High Court against Jadavpur University. PIL seeks identification of people who shouted anti-India slogans.

Anubhuti Vishnoi @anubhutivishnoi All central universities to install a 207-ft high,135 kg national flag on orders of the HRD ministry. 1st such flag at #JNU.

Jailed JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar reminds me of another JNUSU leader, Chandrashekhar Prasad, who was killed in broad daylight while addressing a public meeting in Bihar's Siwan district on March 31, 1997. As a young student at the Aligarh Muslim University, I had a chance to interact with Chandrashekhar months before he was killed...


Read

Delih CM Arvind Kejriwal met President Mukherjee over the JNU issue and attack on journalists in Patiala House Court.

Gilani moves bail plea; court to hear it tomorrow; proceedings took place in a police station.

Former Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani sent to judicial custody for 14 days. He will be kept in a "High Risk Ward" of Jail No 1 of Tihar Jail.


Geelani had been arrested on charges of sedition in connection with an event held at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on February 10, where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.


Police have submitted to the court that Geelanis custody was required to identify and confront him with those who were involved in anti-India slogans demanding independence of Kashmir and present at the event.


The Delhi Police told the court that Geelani has said he can identify those present at the event who were involved in anti-India sloganeering.

JNU march down from Mandi House, numbers in their thousands. 

Students and supporters march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar with flowers in solidarity with JNU.

Nearly 5000 people have gathered at Mandi House in New Delhi to protest against the JNU crackdown. Protesters, largely students from JNU and Delhi University, ex-students and faculty, will march to Jantar Mantar from Mandi House.

Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav lends his support.

Just in: The Supreme Court  clears the decks for formation of a new govt in Arunachal Pradhesh. The SC vacates the February 17 order asking for a status quo to be maintained.


The Apex Court yesterday directed the Narendra Modi government to maintain status quo in Arunachal Pradesh. The ruling, which came shortly after the Union Cabinet recommended that President's rule be revoked in the state, put paid to any possibility of a rebel Congress government being propped up with dissident leader Kalikho Pul as the chief minister.


 The Union Cabinet had earlier in the day recommended that President's rule be revoked on the basis of a home ministry note.

The note incorporated a report from Governor JP Rajkhowa on the political situation there in which he claimed that conditions were conducive to permit parties to go for a floor test, officials said. With the court staying the recommendation, the Modi government will need to approach the court through the Attorney General before it can be forwarded to the President for action. If the government does so unilaterally, it risks facing a confrontation with the judiciary.

Eminent jurist and former Attorney General for India Soli Sorabjee will "lead the team of lawyers' who will represent Kanhaiya Kumar for bail in Supreme Court.  The matter will be heard at 10:30 am tomorrow.


When the PIL filed by JNU Alumnus ND Jayaprakash was taken up at 2 pm today, Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran asked  hearing of Kumar's Article 32 petition. The Court said that it will take up the matter tomorrow. Senior Advocate Soli Sorabjee was also present for today's hearing.

Delhi University students join the protest march in the national capital with JNU students.

JNU students arrive in buses at Mandi House from where they will march to Jantar Mantar.

Mandi House march: Yogendra Yadav tweets that he will be reaching Mandi House to join the march for solidarity with JNU.

A human chain outside Jadavpur University (Kolkata) blocking entry to the ABVP rally inside the campus.

In New Delhi, students, former students and faculty from JNU and other universities are marching from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar demanding the release of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and the dropping of sedition charges against him.At the venue, "Mera Yaar Kanhaiya" T-Shirts are being sold for Rs 150.


Kanhaiya Kumar has moved the Supreme Court requesting bail citing 'extraordinary circumstances.' The plea will be heard before the court tomorrow. Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee is likely to argue for Kanhaiya's bail plea.


The Supreme Court appointed panel of advocates have submitted their report and a pen drive containing a mobile clip of yesterday's visit to the Patiala House court complex.  Kanhaiya Kumar was assaulted by lawyers inside the court complex and in a corridor inside the court.

Just in: The Supreme Court appointed panel of advocates submit their report and pen drive containing a mobile clip of yesterday's visit to the Patiala House court complex. 

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi meets President Pranab Mukherjee protesting the detention of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and the violence in the aftermath. Rahul said that the Congress won't let the RSS impose its flawed ideology on students.

With Rahul were senior leaders of the party, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sheela Dixit, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot and Manish Tiwari.

"It is with some reluctance that I write this Arnab Goswami, as for a long time I too believed that a person who anchors news shows is a journalist and should be given that due. But somehow over the years the power of television has influenced you to a point that when you come on air, you project yourself not as a journalist but as a sort of nationalist messiah, sitting on judgement on all citizens who catch your flight of fancy at that point in time, pronouncing the one as national and the other as anti-national. Is that the job of a journalist Arnab? Well certainly not the journalism I know."

Senior journalist Seema Mustafa lambastes Times Now's Arnab Goswami and it's certainly worth a read. Take a look

JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is in judicial custody till March 2 has moved the Supreme Court for bail. The court will hear his bail plea tomorrow. Yesterday, Delhi police chief BS Bassi had said they would not oppose the bail.


A senior Home Ministry official told the Hindu yesterday that the Delhi Police may have to drop the sedition charges against the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president because they did not have evidence to back their claim that he was shouting anti-national slogans.


Though Delhi Police Commissioner B.S Bassi claimed they did have enough evidence, the Home Ministry official said the Delhi Police had once again written to television channels seeking raw footage of the event on February 9.

Kanhaiya Kumar was kicked and punched so viciously inside a court complex today afternoon that what appeared to be urine stained the young man's trousers...

The horror as it unfolded inside the Patiala House court complex yesterday...  Read.

Kavita Krishnan, Secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association and an activist confirms that a solidarity march will be held in New Delhi from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar over the JNU issue. Reproduced here is what she posted on Facebook a few hours ago.


"There are many rumours floating about suggesting that today's March has been cancelled, police denied permission etc. None of them is true. The JNU Solidarity March is very much happening, Mandi House to Jantar Mantar at 2 pm onwards. BUT some IMPORTANT CONCERNS that I appeal ALL to keep in mind:


1) We must give no pretext or excuse whatsoever to any right-wing goons to attack us, so let's keep the gathering at Mandi House silent and orderly. Bring scarves to tie around mouths if you can - to signify the gagging of free speech and of Constitutional liberties by the use of the sedition law. Bring flowers - lots of flowers.


2) Slogans on the placards - let us stick to those slogans widely accepted and shared by the broad, wide solidarity that has been forged. This March is not the place to insist on raising slogans on which there may be differences. Sure, we need to create and defend spaces to discuss contentious areas of our differences too - including on subjects the State deems 'seditious' - BUT this March is not the time or place for that. Let our placards highlight our demands re JNU, re Rohith Vemula, and assert the spirit of Dr Ambedkar and the Constitution.


3) We will not clash with police: we will cooperate in every possible way to make sure the gathering is peaceful. That is, we will not seek to break barricades or enter into arguments/scuffles with cops. If stopped by police anywhere, we will sit right then and there peacefully. We appeal to media to cover us - wherever we may be sitting.


4) As I said right at the beginning, we will not enter into slogan wars with any right-wing group - rather let our silence resound, in contrast with any noise or provocation on their part. Our numbers will be large today - BUT we will not use the confidence of large numbers to get into scuffles or clashes with ANY right-wing group - we will REFUSE to enter into any such confrontation. Lastly - every single participant in the March is encouraged to help make sure these norms are followed by their friends, companions, fellow marchers. A lot is at stake - including the freedom and safety of Com Kanhaiyya and each other JNU student who is being hunted by the police. We will NOT allow the March to be portrayed by anyone as 'a clash between two groups' etc."

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is under fire for spending a whopping Rs 63.8 crore on his foreign trips and living at least every fifth day of his tenure out of the cash-strapped country.


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the National Assembly yesterday that Sharif has spent a total of 185 days abroad in 65 foreign tours with accompanying staff of 631 officers.


Sharif came to power in June 2013 and has been regularly going abroad, despite growing criticism by opposition and media. His trips have cost the national exchequer Rs 638.27 million.


In stark contrast to his stay abroad during his tenure, Sharif visited the National Assembly just 35 times during his 940 days in power. According to the data provided the National Assembly, Sharif visited Britain 17 times, spending about two months in the UK, of which 32 days were listed as official stay while 24 were listed as transits.


However, during each transit, Sharif stopped for at least a couple of days which cost the exchequer Rs 13.7 crore.


Sharif has a soulmate in PM Narendra Modi, whose foreign trips cost the exchequer over Rs 37 crore with his Australia trip proving to be the most expensive one.

Documents accessed under RTI Act reveal that Indian missions in 16 countries spent Rs 37.22 crore in one year. Modi visited 20 countries between June 2014 and June 2015. 

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister could momentarily lay claim to copyright on Ian Fleming's idiomatic spy line with his exploit on a smartphone this evening.


Courtesy a flight-tracker app he uses for sport, Omar killed the secrecy of what was to have been a hush-hush meeting between his PDP rival, Mehbooba Mufti, and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav.


"Unscheduled flight VTJSG just landed in Srinagar after normal operating hours," Omar tweeted off his handle a little past six in the evening. "Something is cooking with PDP-BJP government formation." Read more

Freedom 251, which is purportedly the world's cheapest smart phone, is evidently not so smart. It's site crashed today and this is their message...


"Dear friends, we are very grateful for your enormous response and your kind patronage and would submit that as of now we received approx. 6 lac hits per second as a result of your kind overwhelming response, servers are over loaded.

We humbly submit that we are therefore taking a pause and upgrading the service and will revert within or before 24 hours.

Once again our respectful thanks and gratitude for your support and patience. We look forward your return as soon as we are back online well within 24 hours."

In what is indicative of the height of corruption in the education system of UP, an inter college in Agra pasted former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun's photo in an admit card issued by the state board for the high school examination. This comes barely a day before 1.6 lakh students in Agra are to appear for the exam. Read more

Copy of the memorandum submitted by the Rahul Gandhi to the President of India.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has backed Apple in its battle with FBI over opposing a US court's ruling to unlock the iPhone of a Pakistani-American terrorist who shot dead 14 people in California, saying forcing companies to enable hacking could "compromise" user's privacy.


In a series of tweets, Pichai said that although Google gives "law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders", but it is "wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices and data," which could set a "troubling precendent".


"Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise user's privacy," the Indian-American CEO said as he supported Apple CEO Tim Cook's stand.


"We know that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face significant challenges in protecting the public against crime and terrorism," Pichai said. "We build secure products to keep your information safe and we give law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders," he said.


"But that's wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices and data. Could be a troubling precedent," he said as debates are on on the merits of the case between Apple and federal law enforcement agencies.

Why D-Mart is making profits year on year and Wal-Mart is not. Read

Just in: Delhi Court violence: Bar Council apologises for lawyers attacking journalists, sets up a three-member inquiry panel to probe the violence. It said that if the lawyers were found guilty their licence would be revoked.

An online statement purportedly by 'Indian students condemning the government's response to student dissenters' went up on Google at midnight yesterday, 'to gather around, to state our collective opinion -- aloud to ourselves and to our country, and to show that we are many, that students who feel this way come from all parts of the country and from myriad backgrounds. It is a place for us to realise our own numbers and strength.'


The document, which is in English and eight Indian languages, is being translated in as many languages as possible, and seeks the endorsement of those who agree with it.


It states: "As students of varied disciplines, we greatly value the unfettered space Indian universities and colleges provide for varied political views and ideologies as well as for activism, and we believe it is crucial that this freedom be safeguarded. These are not only relevant to our education, but also to our development as aware and engaged citizens.


"We wish to state strongly that we do not think that expressing discontent against state action, for example by protesting the hanging of Afzal Guru or Yakub Memon, threatens our country as much as the all-powerful state using violence and outdated colonial laws against its own young citizens does. The use of force and high-handedness by the state teaches young people that this is the language in which public debates must be conducted.

"We are disappointed that our government has forgotten our history -- that we are a people who through non-violent assertion of individual and collective rights, triumphed over state brutality. We are shocked that our government thinks that concern for the nation can take only one form, that which it endorses. We are disgusted that it uses its enormous power to silence students who bring attention to the injustice that our poor and marginalised face. We reject the legacy of divisiveness and suppression that not only this government but many previous ones have left us.

"As young participants in a democracy, we seek a country that will celebrate not only a diversity of languages, foods, arts, music, religions and ethnicities, but an equally diverse range of political views. If the state cannot and will not allow for the forming of such a country, the young people of this country will resolve to intensify their (democratic, non-violent and inclusive) struggle against the narrow-minded and majoritarian powers that be."


You can read the document here.


Pic: Activists protest against alleged 'anti-India' slogans shouted during a demonstration at the Jawaharlal Nehru University where students allegedly called the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru a martyr.

Forty activists of a student group protesting in support of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar have been detained in Chennai. The students were from the All India Students Federation and are demanding that Kanhaiya Kumar be released. The JNUSU leader has been remanded to judicial custody (Tihar jail) till March 2. 

The protesters were reportedly attempting to enter the Reserve Bank of India building in Chennai.


In Kolkata, students of the prestigious Jadavpur University went on a protest march demanding the release of Kanhaiya Kumar and action against the lawyers who manhandled him and journalists at the Patiala House Court on Monday and yesterday.


At JNU, Delhi, hours before a protest march by its students, the Vice Chancellor appealed to them to "reconsider" on account of their safety.

In a written appeal (pictured), the university said: "While we appreciate your right to protests, we are apprehensive of your safety outside campus."

JNU has also written to the police and the home ministry requesting adequate security for its students.

BJP MLA OP Sharma who was caught on camera beating a CPI activist at Patiala House court on Monday, joined the probe into the assault case today, a day after he was served summons by Delhi Police.

Sharma, a first-time MLA, presented himself before the Tilak Marg police station today.

The police had yesterday issued summons to him as well as three lawyers in connection with assault on journalists and JNU students and teachers at the court complex on Monday.

Delhi Police has been under attack for not taking action against those involved in the assault at the court complex on Monday and yesterday

Six CPI-M workers were arrested late last night in connection with the brutal murder of a 27-year-old RSS worker in poll-bound Kerala's Kannur district, from where two incidents of bombs being hurled were also reported this morning. The police said the arrests were recorded late last night.


Those arrested are Srijayan, Joy Joseph, Prasanth, Prabesh, Libin and Akash, all hailing from the district.


The police said a 20-member gang was involved in the attack on Sujit, carried out on Monday night.


The CPI-M workers had barged into the house of Sujit at Papinesseri in the district and brutally hacked him in front of his aged parents and brother, who also suffered injuries.Sujit later succumbed to injuries.


While the BJP had slammed CPI-M for the attack, the Marxist party had denied it saying it was the fallout of a local incident relating to insulting a girl.


The BJP had maintained that the CPI-M was behind the attack to get over the embarrassment of the arrest of its party district secretary, P Jayarajan, an accused in the murder of a BJP functionary in 2014.


The violence comes after a lull in Kannur, which frequently witnesses clashes between the CPI-M and BJP. On Wednesday morning, country bombs had been hurled at an RSS seva kendra and at the house of a BJP worker in Thalassery in the district. But none were injured.

A day after Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar was attacked and badly beaten at the Patiala House court premises in New Delhi, security has been tightened at his house in his village in Bihar in view of a likely threat to his family.


"Policemen in plainclothes have been deployed near his house to provide security to his family," a district police official said.


Kanhaiya's father Jaishankar Singh and his mother Meena Devi, live in Bihat village in Begusarai district, considered a stronghold of the Left parties in Bihar. His parents are poor. His father Jaishankar is partially paralysed, while his mother is an anganwadi worker and earns Rs 3000 per month.


His mother told the Indian Express that it had been over two weeks, since she last spoke to him and hoped to hear his voice soon.


Security was tightened at his house following a directive from the Bihar police headquarters. The district police was asked to deploy security forces at his house.


The JNUSU president, who has been booked for sedition in connection with an event at JNU where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised last week, was arrested by Delhi Police on February 12. He was remanded to judicial custody till March 2.


Kanhaiyas family is expected to take part in a protest at the local Collectors office, seeking justice for him.


-- MI Khan, Patna/Rediff.com

Pic: Kanhaiya Kumar's mother Meena Devi

Three office bearers of the ABVP have quit, and have written a stinging letter of resignation saying they can't be mouthpiece of a government that allows hooliganism in the name of nationalism.


Pradeep Narwal, Joint Secretary of ABVP JNU Unit, posted what is believed to be a resignation letter he and his two colleagues, Rahul Yadav, President SSS ABVP UNIT and Ankit Hans, Secretary SSS ABVP UNIT, submitted to the higher authorities, on his Facebook profile.


JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on Saturday and was accused by the police of sedition, which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. 


Yesterday, while he was being brought to Patiala House court, he was punched and kicked. The abuse did not stop even when he was inside the court. His lawyer says Kanhaiya was hit once more by a man wearing dark glasses who walked away despite the police presence. Kanhaiya has been sent to 14 days in jail.

Narwal, one of the three ABVP leaders, who have resigned from their posts in the students union says that Kanhaiya is an accused and should be tried. "If you want to give him lifetime punishment, give (it to) him," said Narwal. He added that Kanhaiya's fate must be decided by court. "Don't make our culture Talibani," he said.


Pic: Pradeep Narwal.

Update on the JNU campus row: The Supreme Court says it is concerned about the law and order situation arising after the Patiala House court scuffle. The SC advised lawyers (opposing Kanhaiya Kumar) not to inflate the situation by giving unnecessary statements. The SC observation came when a lawyer informed the court about the police commissioner's statement which stated the police will not oppose Kanhaiya Kumar's bail.
A lawyer alleges in the SC that the Delhi Police is being pressurised not to oppose the bail of the JNUSU President.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police has registered two FIRs against unknown persons over the scuffles in Patiala House Court yesterday. 

Mumbai Mirror gets it right. 

Rahul Gandhi will take the battle over the JNU row and the alleged targeting of students in various parts of the country to President Pranab Mukherjee when he meets him today.


Accompanied by senior leaders and also the young MPs of the party, the Congress Vice President is expected to highlight the "lawlessness" in Delhi in the wake of Patiala House court attacks and the way the government has handled the JNU row as also the Rohith Vemula suicide and the agitation in FTII in Pune.


Party sources said Gandhi will be accompanied by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of the party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and several other party leaders and MPs.


Only yesterday, Congress had demanded immediate removal of Police Commissioner BS Bassi. Citing the attacks in Patiala House court here, Congress had yesterday alleged that "jungle raj" is prevailing in Delhi.

Giving a major boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' initiatives, Noida-based start-up Ringing Bells has launched world's cheapest smart phone. The Rs 251 smartphone was officially launched by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Murli Manohar Joshi. The units will be delivered as late as June 30.

Here's an interesting tidbit: JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar has been kept in jail number 3 at Tihar jail.  It is interesting to note that even 2001 Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru was kept in the same cell, jail number 3.

BJP MLA OP Sharma, who was caught on camera, attacking a CPI member on Monday at the Patiala House court, has been summoned by the Delhi police. After the attack, Sharma had alleged that it was the others who attacked him first and that he was simply defending himself and would not tolerate others maligning Mother India. 

The sedition charges against Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union President Kanhaiya Kumar may be dropped. According to sources in the home ministry, there is no evidence so far to back sedition charges against Kanhaiya.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav met PDP president Mehbooba Mufti at her residence on Wednesday and, according to sources, conveyed to her the Centre's willingness to lift the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act on a trial basis from Jammu and Kashmir. Madhav also spoke of handing over two power projects to the state to end the 40-day deadlock over government formation. 

US President Barack Obama is likely to make a historic visit to Cuba next month, the first sitting American president to go to the island nation in 80 years, as the two Cold War-era foes make efforts to normalise their ties, a media report has said. "The trip is planned for March 21-22 before the president flies to Argentina," ABC news reported. 

At a time when Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar has been booked under sedition, eminent historian Romila Thapar said that sedition was a colonial-era law meant to clamp down on people and should be reconsidered in a free nation.

A BJP MLA from Rajasthan has called Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi a 'traitor' and said he should be 'hanged' and 'shot' for siding with 'anti-national' students at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. 

Rahul Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders will meet President Pranab Mukherjee today at 12.30 to discuss the Jawaharlal Nehru University issue and the crackdown by the police on the students. Yesterday, the row escalated even further after JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was assaulted by lawyers in the Patiala Court premises while being brought for his hearing. Kumar was then sent to Tihar jail till March 2. 

A television set, a few books, clean blankets and newspapers have been placed at an independent cell in Tihar Jail for JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar. Kumar was on Wednesday was sent to judicial custody till March 2 by a Delhi district court.