Striking JNU student falls ill, shifted to Safdarjung hospital

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students’ body’s joint secretary, Saurabh Sharma, who was sitting on an indefinite hunger strike against the penalty slapped on him in connection to the February 9 event held on the campus, has been shifted to Safdarjung hospital on Monday after falling ill. According to the doctor, Sharma was brought unconscious to the hospital and after initial checkup doctors found his condition was critical.

“Early in the morning, Sharma had fever and started vomiting. I along with other students took him to the JNU medical centre on the campus and the doctor found his condition out of hand and referred him to the Safdarjung hospital,” said Anuj Tomar, a student on the JNU campus.

“His condition has yet not improved as he is unconscious since morning and his sugar level is 78, lower than the average level. He is in the intensive care unit we are hoping for his improvement soon, said a doctor in the hospital,” Tomar, who is also an ABVP sympathiser on the JNU campus added.

“A day ahead Sharma was told by the doctor to revoke protest and eat otherwise he would get serious complications but he denied” a supporter of ABVP on the JNU campus said.

Sharma, who is representing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s students wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on the JNU campus, is one of the students besides 21 others who were charged with violation of the University Code of Conduct and was slapped with Rs 10,000 as fine. To protest against the fine, he was on hunger strike for the last six days.

As many as 21 students including Sharma were found guilty by a high-level inquiry committee appointed after a controversial event was held on February 9, to commemorate Afzal Guru’s hanging, who was convicted by the Supreme Court for his role in the Parliament attack. The high-level committee concluded its investigation a fortnight ago and recommended for punishment ranging from rustication to outbound to monitory fine. Following the report last week, the university administration took action against all the students involved.