JNU debate: Indian journalists and students 'attacked by lawyers' at Patiala House Court

Violence broke out between lawyers and journalists at the Patiala House Court in New Delhi on 15 February afternoon. The incident took place as the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)'s student union was due to be appear on charges of sedition for his role in an event hosted at the university.
JNU has been at the centre of intense media coverage, following the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar on 12 February. His arrest came as JNU students staged a rally discussing the hanging of Mohammed Afzal Guru, the terrorist convicted over a 2001 plot to attack the Indian Parliament. Anti-India slogans were allegedly chanted by some students during the rally, prompting calls for the institution to be shut down amidst fears it was breeding "anti-nationals".
Reports from the Patiala House Court have indicated that lawyers have allegedly attacked JNU students who came to the court to support Kumar, as well as journalists. Local media reports also indicated that the group of lawyers could be heard chanting pro-Indian slogans as they attacked students and journalists within the court premises.
Many of India's leading news organisations reported that their journalists had been attacked by lawyers, with some taking to Twitter to relay what was happening at the court. The Times of India reported that at least five journalists had been locked inside a courtroom and beaten up by lawyers for being "anti-national" and supporting JNU students through their coverage.
Asian News International released a video appearing to show a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) OP Sharma beating up an unidentified man outside the court house. Despite a large media presence, Sharma appears to continue to attack the man.
Delhi BJP MLA OP Sharma and his supporters beat up an unidentified man outside Patiala House courthttps://t.co/PFv8ku45kV
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
BJP MLA O P Sharma is habitual offender.He sud be immediately arrested.What Delhi police is waiting for.His visuals beating is every where.
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) February 15, 2016
Akshay Deshmane from the Economic Times was one of the journalists who claimed he had been attacked by lawyers at Patiala District Court. IBN7 reporter Amit Pandey was also injured during the attack, colleagues confirmed on Twitter. A reporter from Malayalam Channel was also said to have been beaten up because lawyers thought he was taking photos. India Today and the Hindustan Times also confirmed that their reporters had been caught up in the violence.
While many have been condemning the violence and questioning the Delhi Police over how this was allowed to happen, others have taken to Twitter to express their joy at the journalists being attacked. Some indicated that the lawyers were right to "break their legs" as a punishment for the journalists supporting "goons" and "JNU traitors". Others said that they wished they had been there to orchestrate the attacks themselves.
If Journalists can support Goons who want to break India, Lawyers are right to break their legs in Patiala house.
— Amit Agrawal (@daksh666) February 15, 2016
So happy to hear that my brethren at Patiala House roughed up the reporters. Lovely. #CleanUpJNU
— Twitvention (@Twitvention) February 15, 2016
Rss n BJP know only one thing. Violence, beating up
— Vinay Dokania (@vinaydokania) February 15, 2016
This Patiala house incident is not jus a blot on idea of india but #saffronemergency
Shame on Delhi Police @BhimBassi and CRP jawans for standing by as lawyers beat journalists and JNU students
— cheenikum (@ashokbagariya) February 15, 2016
Students & journalists beaten up brutally in court police silent spectators @narendramodi your govt's truly anti national! #JNUCrackdown
— swati chaturvedi (@bainjal) February 15, 2016
Shocking visuals from Patiala House.
— Sarita Singh (@AapsaritaSingh) February 15, 2016
Some self called Desh bhakt BJP Lawyers beating students & journalists in presence of Police.
Shameful
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