Violence rocks Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as ABVP and Left-affiliated groups clash over alleged casteist remarks by the Vice-Chancellor. Students trade serious allegations while Delhi Police launches investigation into the tense campus confrontation.
Fresh violence erupted at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in the early hours of Monday, intensifying political tensions on one of India’s most prominent university campuses. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have accused Left-affiliated student groups of carrying out a coordinated attack following protests over alleged casteist remarks attributed to the university’s Vice-Chancellor.
The confrontation reportedly began after Left groups organized demonstrations against what they described as discriminatory comments and administrative actions. According to ABVP members, the protest march escalated into a violent episode that left students fearing for their safety inside campus buildings.
An ABVP student, Prateek Bhardwaj, recounted a harrowing experience during the incident. He claimed that amid chaos and confusion, he sought refuge inside a restroom to avoid the advancing crowd. “I don’t know which floor I was on. To save myself, I ran around, but only one restroom was open. I went inside that restroom and locked myself in from the inside. After about half an hour, a group of at least 150 people arrived. They saw that the door was locked and tried to break it. They made a hole in the door and filled the restroom with smoke and powder from a fire extinguisher. I even have photos I took at that time,” he said.
Providing context to the dispute, Bhardwaj alleged that tensions had been simmering over disciplinary actions taken by the administration. He stated that the Vice-Chancellor had been enforcing regulations under a CPO manual to maintain campus discipline. According to him, five students were restricted under these rules, and video footage of the restrictions circulated widely. “After this restriction, they turned the matter into a purely political issue,” he claimed.
However, Left-affiliated student groups have presented a contrasting narrative, accusing ABVP members of initiating violence and attempting to suppress legitimate protest. The conflicting accounts have deepened the ideological divide on campus, reflecting broader national political fault lines that often play out within student politics at JNU.
Another ABVP student, Vaibhav Meena, alleged that the march was followed by what appeared to be a pre-planned operation. “A crowd of around 400 people, many with their faces covered and wearing masks, carrying sticks and rods, entered the school area. Upon reaching there, they began locking the school buildings,” he claimed.
ABVP Secretary at JNU, Pravin Kumar Piyush, further alleged that between 400 and 500 masked individuals entered the academic zone late at night. “They were carrying hockey sticks, rods, batons, knives, and stones. They forced their way into the school where common students were studying in the reading rooms and allegedly pushed them out forcibly,” he said.
Despite the intensity of the allegations, no major injuries have been officially reported. According to Delhi Police, two students visited a government hospital to obtain medical leave certificates, but no formal complaints have been filed so far. Authorities have initiated preliminary checks and stated that further investigations are underway to verify claims and identify those responsible.
The incident has once again spotlighted the volatile atmosphere at JNU, where student politics frequently intersect with national ideological debates. As investigations continue, university authorities face mounting pressure to restore calm, ensure student safety, and address the grievances that triggered the confrontation.
| Also Read: PM Modi’s Israel Visit Marks Bold Diplomatic Milestone |
With accusations and counter-accusations dominating the discourse, the campus community now awaits clarity from the ongoing probe. The outcome of the investigation is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the narrative around the latest episode of unrest at the university.
