NEW DELHI: Indian police arrested Kanhaiya Kumar, a student union leader, on charges of sedition on Friday, a day after a controversial event held at Jawaharlal Nehru University criticized the hanging of Afzal Guru in 2013, according to a report published on The Hindu website.

“Some policemen in plain clothes came to the campus, conducted a random check at various places including the hostels and convention center and picked up Kanhaiya,” said a student.

Vice Chancellor of JNU M Jagadesh Kumar said, “While the JNU community upholds the right to free debate on campus, the University strongly condemns the use of the University as a platform for activities that violate the Constitution and the laws of the land. However, there could be aberrations where fringe sections misuse the freedom provided.”

A disciplinary inquiry was ordered when police received a complaint about the event by members of the right wing student group (ABVP) agitating against the “anti-national” event, even after it was changed from a protest to a cultural art and photography exhibition at the last minute.