In a late-night outbreak of violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), three students sustained injuries following a clash between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-backed student groups. The confrontation occurred during a general body meeting convened for the forthcoming student union elections. Disagreements erupted over the appointment of election committee members at the School of Languages, leading to physical altercations with students seen in videos attacking each other. In the midst of the tumult, the footage captured a student bleeding from his head and another instance where a bicycle was thrown amidst the crowd. Injuries led to several students being hospitalized at Safdarjung Hospital, as confirmed by a JNU official.
The university administration has yet to formally address the outbreak of violence, whilst the clashing groups have each laid blame on the other. The Left-affiliated groups, including the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) and All India Students Association (AISA), accused the ABVP of disrupting the meeting, using derogatory slurs, and intimidating students and security personnel. AISA has called for the offenders, identifiable in the circulating videos, to be penalized. On the other side, the ABVP pointed fingers at the JNU Students’ Union and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) president, Aishe Ghosh, accusing them of attacking students, with a specific assertion of disabled students being targeted.
The bedlam at the educational institution has raised alarms over the sanctity of academic spaces and the safety of students. Amidst the claims and counterclaims, Delhi Police is actively investigating the situation based on the complaints received from both parties involved in the melee. The incident reflects the charged political atmosphere on university campuses and underscores the necessity for dialogue and peaceful resolution mechanisms within academic institutions. These developments bring to the forefront the pressing issue of student safety and the maintenance of an environment conducive to education and constructive political engagement.