Bengaluru, February 24. Protests erupted at Azim Premji University in Sarjapur on Tuesday evening after members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) accused a student group of attempting to host an "anti-national" seminar related to Jammu and Kashmir.
The university clarified that it had not authorized such an event.
A group of ABVP activists stormed the campus after forcefully opening the gate, raising slogans and staging demonstrations both outside the university gates and within the premises.
The demonstrators vandalized property, smeared ink on the university's main signage, and spray-painted graffiti reading "Ban SPARK" on campus walls. They also demanded disciplinary action against the organizers and called for a ban on the student group.
The activists displayed posters condemning the organization of the seminar and waved the national flag and ABVP banners. They staged a protest inside the premises, and ABVP banners stated that the protest was against anti-national separatist forces at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru.
According to ABVP activists, the controversy stemmed from a program allegedly organized by a student group named SPARK to mark the anniversary of the Kunan Poshpora incident of February 23, 1991.
The ABVP claimed that the proposed seminar was derogatory towards the Indian Army and promoted separatist ideologies. Protesters also alleged that the event portrayed Jammu and Kashmir as separate from India.
Reacting to the development, Bengaluru Rural SP Chandrakanth M.V. stated that, in connection with the matter, the protesters were taken into preventive custody, and all precautionary measures were taken to ensure that there was no disturbance to law and order.
He added that the investigation into the matter is ongoing.
However, in a press note, the university said the group had "forced their way onto the campus," vandalized property, and assaulted security personnel and students. The institution stated that the incident was immediately reported to the Sarjapura police, who responded promptly and detained those involved.
"The Azim Premji University had not authorized any event of this nature. The university follows strict procedures before any event is held on campus. This event, which was allegedly planned by a small group of students, did not take place," the statement said.
Condemning the violence, the university added that it strongly denounced the actions of the external group that entered the campus and caused damage and disruption.
Further investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the protest and the alleged event.