Bengaluru, February 24 The ABVP staged a demonstration against Azim Premji University, based in the city, on Tuesday, alleging that an event held at the institution promoted separatism and the cessation of Jammu and Kashmir, and was an insult to the Indian Army.
Holding placards, activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad smeared the university's nameplate with black ink and claimed that the event was part of a larger agenda to "divide" India and Kashmir.
The protesters alleged that a programme conducted inside the campus by the All India Students' Association (AISA)-backed organization, Spark, opposed India and promoted anti-national sentiments.
The protesters also claimed that Spark was promoting the idea that Jammu and Kashmir was not part of India.
A poster shared by the protesters showed that the event was related to the Kunan-Poshpora incident, which reportedly took place on February 23.
The poster read, "Kunan-Poshpora witnessed one of the most gruesome alleged incidents of mass rape on the intervening night of February 23-24, 1991."
"35 years on, not a single conviction has taken place. Despite there being constant pressure to close the case, the victims are still fighting an unequal battle for justice. This is just one among numerous instances of violence inflicted on the people of Kashmir," the poster by Spark, a students' body, wrote.
Sources in the university said that the event was not organized by the university administration and that it had no official role in hosting or endorsing the program.
However, it did not issue any official statement.
The ABVP protesters further claimed that when they objected to the event, they were detained on campus and allegedly assaulted.
"Through students, they made them hold the Indian flag and assault us with slippers. Our activists, who were holding the Indian flag, were attacked with slippers. We strongly condemn this," a protester said, adding that the organization would continue its agitation until action was taken against the university.
The Bengaluru Rural District Police said in a post on 'X' that protesters had been taken into custody as a precaution and that all necessary measures were taken to ensure law and order was maintained. Investigation into the matter is ongoing.
ABVP activists also wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking action against the organizers of the event.
They demanded an immediate ban on AISA and its affiliated organizations, and an inquiry into the students and leaders organizing such events on the university campus.
