(Image source from: Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya surrenders})

Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, facing sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans, have surrendered before police in New Delhi, after the Delhi High Court refused to provide safety until they surrender. JNU students union vice president Shelha Rashid Shora said that, Khalid and Bhattacharya's surrender has come after a series of legal discussions keeping their safety in mind.

"We hope that Kanhaiya gets bail and we will fight politically and legally thereafter," Rashid said. "Comrade Umar and Comrade Anirban have surrendered themselves to police. It's a moment of sadness for the campus because we have seen these activists for years standing with the students," Rashid said. "They have placed their faith in the law and we hope that they will be released soon. We also hope that Comrade Kanhaiya gets bail tomorrow," she said yesterday.

"Umar and Anirban have faith in the judiciary," JNU Students Union vice president Shehla Rashid said.

On Tuesday, Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya went to the High Court for permission to surrender at a secret location. The court, however, said: "You can't use your whim and fancy. You have to follow the procedure, surrender or arrest."

The two students, accompanied by their lawyer, appeared at the administration block and were taken out of JNU shortly before they were arrested. JNU students Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash, accused of allegedly shouted anti-national slogans are also expected to surrender before police today.

JNU has been on the boil over the arrest of its students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar on sedition charges after some students organised a meet to mark the anniversaries of executions of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front co-founder Maqbool Bhat. Anti-India slogans were raised at the gathering.

By Premji