New Delhi: A faculty member at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said he was abducted and physically assaulted after an apparent traffic conflict, encouraging the university teachers’ association to demand immediate action from the police and administration.
Sharad Baviskar, assistant professor at the university’s Center for French and Francophone Studies, was returning to the university between June 17 and 18, when he was “forcibly taken away by a group of disbelievers when he suggested that the dispute be taken to the police station”.
Baviskar traveled alone in his car.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) has called on the Delhi police to do all they can to catch those who tried to abduct one of its members,
“He was locked up and taken to a residence in Delhi where he was held prisoner for over three hours. As he tried to reason with his captors to release him, he was subjected to verbal abuse, physical assault, threats and financial extortion,” the statement read.
Talk to Loksatta, Baviskar said the culprits made him pay Rs 60,000 in cash. The kidnapping offer was made on him at Dhaula Kuan in New Delhi. He was released after three hours in confinement.
On the afternoon of June 19, Baviskar declared Thread he was at the police station and was still filing a complaint. He said he could only share details of the incident after the complaint was filed. “I don’t know how long it will take because the question of jurisdiction between police stations has to be settled first,” he said.
In a Facebook post, the JNU faculty member said he was called “anti-national” by those who abducted him and that they disliked JNU.
“I survived! I was kidnapped on my way back to JNU. I suffered trauma! had to hand over my car, purse and person as there were many of them! My credit card is stolen! My fault was that the goons didn’t like JNU. They all pretended to be Modi supporters! They called me anti-national! Somehow I managed to reach jnu after an ordeal! I have no faith in the system. Will trust people! Good evening! (sic),” he said.
The university’s teachers’ association demanded that the university administration raise the issue with the police “in all sincerity” and guarantee their safety.
“Throughout this extremely traumatic ordeal, Prof. Baviskar has shown exemplary courage and dignity that inspires the JNU community, which unites in support of Prof. Baviskar’s complaint,” JNUTA said.
