New Delhi: A fact-finding committee of the Congress on the JNU violence on Sunday alleged that Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar was the "mastermind" behind it and sought his immediate dismissal and criminal probe against him. Calling the January 5 violence by masked men "state-sponsored", panel member Sushmita Dev said it recommended that Kumar be dismissed immediately and all appointments in faculty should be probed and an independent inquiry should take place. The Congress had appointed the four-member fact-finding committee to carry out a detailed inquiry into the violence at JNU.

"A criminal probe must be initiated against the VC, the company that provides security service and members of the faculty who conspired with the attackers to unleash the violence at Sabarmati hostel, Periyar hostel and other places. The security company's contract must be immediately terminated," the Mahila Congress chief said.