The Jawaharlal Nehru University has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on its students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar for violating disciplinary norms during an event organised at the campus on February 9, reported PTI. The university also rusticated students Umar Khalid for one semester, Anirban Bhattacharya till July 15 and Mujeeb Gattoo for two semesters. Bhattacharya has also been barred from pursuing any course at the university for the next five years.

A high-level committee set up to look into the controversial protests at JNU in February had recommended that Kumar, Khalid, Bhattacharya and two others be rusticated for their involvement in the agitation. The five-member inquiry committee was formed on February 10, a day after students raised slogans against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Kumar, Khalid and Bhattacharya were arrested and then released on interim bail after being charged with sedition.

JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid said they will challenge the committee's report, adding that it is based "on sheer vendetta and a biased inquiry". Rashid said, "These are all innocent students, coming from extremely humble and underprivileged backgrounds. They are all dedicated activists and this is a conspiracy to crush anti-Narendra Modi voices...The punishments are all based on one-sided statements from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad members, and our repeated calls to conduct a fair inquiry were ignored."