1 week ago
COEP Student Rejects Political Involvement After ABVP-NSUI Clash
A student at COEP said she does not want to be part of a political fight.
She made a video saying that people had pressured her to speak about college fees.
She later apologised to the college and declined to meet Rahul Gandhi.
Political student groups then argued and fought at the campus.
An ABVP student said NSUI and Congress workers attacked him.
NSUI and Congress said ABVP caused the trouble instead.
Both sides complained to the police.
The police are investigating what happened.
A COEP student released a second video asking political groups not to involve her in their dispute.
She said she had earlier alleged excess fees after being manipulated and pressured, and apologised to the college.
ABVP and NSUI-Congress activists clashed at the campus on Friday night before Rahul Gandhi’s Pune student interaction.
ABVP member Malhar Patil filed an FIR alleging that NSUI and Congress workers attacked him at the COEP hostel.
NSUI and Congress denied the allegations, blamed ABVP for the altercation, and filed cross-complaints, police said.
- Who
- A COEP student, ABVP activists, and NSUI and Congress workers are involved; Rahul Gandhi was also asked to meet the student.
- What
- A campus clash followed disputed claims that the student had been pressured to make a media statement about excess fees.
- Where
- The events took place at the College of Engineering Pune campus and hostel, with complaints filed at Shivajinagar police station in Pune.
- When
- The disputed media visit occurred on August 20; the clash occurred on Friday night, and videos and police complaints followed on Saturday.
- Why
- The groups gave conflicting accounts over whether the student was pressured by NSUI-Congress or ABVP, leading to a confrontation.
NSUI and Congress’s account
ABVP’s account
Who pressured the student
NSUI and Congress’s account
Prathamesh Abnave said ABVP members tortured and pressured the student after she gave a media statement in favour of Rahul Gandhi.
ABVP’s account
ABVP alleged that the student’s video exposed Congress and NSUI and said their workers barged into COEP premises and caused a disturbance.
Cause of the clash
NSUI and Congress’s account
NSUI and Congress said ABVP caused the altercation and that Youth Congress workers went to protest after the student was allegedly pressured.
ABVP’s account
Patil’s FIR alleged that NSUI and Congress workers attacked him and other ABVP members when they went to the hostel to discuss the student’s statement.
Police complaints
NSUI and Congress’s account
NSUI and Congress filed complaints against ABVP activists, according to police and the report.
ABVP’s account
Patil filed an FIR against named NSUI and Congress workers and about 50 others.
Key facts
- Student’s position
- She said she is not involved in politics or agitation and asked not to be used in political drama.
- Earlier statement
- She said she had alleged excess fees after being manipulated and pressured, and apologised to the college.
- Campus clash
- ABVP and NSUI-Congress activists clashed at COEP on Friday night.
- ABVP complaint
- Malhar Patil, 19, alleged that 50 to 60 NSUI and Congress workers attacked him at the hostel.
- Police action
- Police booked named NSUI and Congress workers under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Maharashtra Police Act.
- Counter-complaints
- Police said both sides filed complaints and that further investigation was underway.
- Related event
- The clash occurred a day before Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj student interaction in Pune.
Quotes
Unnamed COEP girl student
COEP student who appeared in videos concerning the fee allegations and campus dispute
“When NSUI and Congress activists visited (on August 20), I told a news channel that the college was charging excess fees from students… But we were actually manipulated and pressure was created due to which I said it… This was wrong. So I apologise to the college.”
indianexpress.com
“I am a simple student not related to politics. I am also not related to any agitation. The ongoing issue damaged the atmosphere in COEP. Please free our campus from political activism and please do not involve me in any political drama.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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