New Delhi, February 23 Several students were injured in a late-night clash between two student groups at Jawaharlal Nehru University, with both the Left groups and the ABVP accusing each other of instigating the violence, and authorities vowing to take strict action against any disruptive behavior on campus.
Tensions escalated on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after a protest against the vice-chancellor turned violent around 1:30 am on Monday.
The Left-backed Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) had called for an equality march – ‘Samta Juloos’ – towards the East Gate on Sunday night, demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the revocation of a suspension order.
While the protesters alleged that the administration did not engage with them and instead allowed ABVP members to confront them, the Right-wing student body blamed the Left groups for instigating the violence.
Pandit recently triggered a controversy after she said in an interview that communities "cannot progress by being permanently victims or playing the victim card," with the JNUSU terming the remarks "casteist" and "insensitive" towards marginalized communities.
Videos shared by the rival student bodies purportedly showed masked individuals hurling stones and roaming with sticks on campus.
Sharing a video showing a few people hurling stones on campus, Left-affiliated student groups alleged that ABVP members started pelting stones when they gathered for a protest.
The ABVP also shared videos showing masked individuals entering the campus before the violence broke out.
Naming several students from the Left-backed student groups, the ABVP accused them of initiating a physical altercation and later throwing stones at ABVP members, even attacking female students.
The JNUSU, on its part, alleged that students demanding an apology and resignation of the vice-chancellor for her "casteist" remarks were attacked with stones and bricks, leaving several injured and forcing many to take shelter inside the central library.
In a statement, the JNUSU named several ABVP members, accusing them of leading a mob.
It also accused Pandit of not addressing them despite being aware of the protest.
"Members of the ABVP threw stones and bricks at the protest site and physically attacked the protesting students with sticks, creating a climate of fear on campus," the statement said.
It added that the JNUSU has called for a 'Long March' to the Ministry of Education on February 26, and reiterated its demand for the vice-chancellor's resignation.
The university authorities, meanwhile, said that it has taken serious note of the incident and warned of strict action against any disruptive behavior on campus.
In an official statement, the JNU administration said that several academic buildings inside the campus were reportedly locked by a group of protesting students.
"The protesting students entered the central library and reportedly threatened the unwilling students, intimidating them to join the protest. It is learned that this led to a scuffle between two student groups on campus on the night of February 22. The JNU administration has taken very serious cognisance of these disturbing incidents," the statement said.
Condemning the violence, it added, "Strict action is being taken under university rules and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Classes and other academic activities are continuing as scheduled.”
The ABVP earlier held a press conference, claiming that the protest turned violent after Left-backed groups attacked students studying in the reading rooms, alleging that a mob of about 150-200 people attacked ABVP activists on campus.
It also claimed that many of its supporters had to be hospitalised after being attacked.
