Japan team was on recce for Emperor visit to JNU when attack happened

According to JNU officials,the delegation,which was conducting a reconnaissance visit prior to a likely visit by Japanese Emperor Akihito,was less than 100 metres from the School of Language,Literature and Culture Studies,where the incident took place. Emperor Akihito and his wife plan to visit India between November 30 and December 6.

Vice-Chancellor Sudhir Kumar Sopory,who was chairing a meeting in Lucknow at the time of the incident,said. “The Japanese delegation was in JNU. The Japanese Emperor Akihito is interested in coming to JNU and the delegation was looking at areas in the university he could visit,” Sopory said. Asked whether the incident would jeopardise the emperor’s visit,Sopory said,“I hope not.”

‘Students at JNU need greater sensitisation’

A public meeting was held in JNU on Friday night after Wednesday’s brutal attack. Addressing fellow students,union president V Lenin Kumar spoke of the need for increased sensitisation of students without increasing security. “We have opposed surveillance on campus as that is not the solution to curb such incidents. Sensitisation is the solution,” he said. ENS