Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Jadavpur University Attack: Police Make No Arrests After One Month
Jadavpur University was attacked twice on August 20.
The incidents followed a clash involving ABVP and Left student groups.
Videos and CCTV footage of the events were available.
Police collected footage and asked the university for information about 18 students.
Two ABVP students were questioned, but nobody had been arrested by September 21.
Some students and teachers said the police were not acting quickly enough.
ABVP also said police had not acted on its complaint about an alleged assault.
The university said it had given police the information requested and wanted students to receive justice.
Kolkata Police had made no arrests one month after two August 20 incidents at Jadavpur University.
Police collected CCTV footage and sought records of 18 students from the university.
Two ABVP students were questioned in late August, but no arrests followed.
Students and teachers alleged police inaction and criticized the university’s handling of its complaint.
ABVP also questioned why no one was arrested over an alleged assault on its JU unit president.
- Who
- Jadavpur University students, ABVP supporters, university officials and Kolkata Police were involved.
- What
- Two rounds of campus vandalism and attacks were reported, but police had made no arrests after a month.
- When
- The main incidents occurred on August 20; the reported police status was as of September 21.
- Where
- Jadavpur University campus in Kolkata.
- Why
- The incidents reportedly followed an August 19 clash and alleged assault involving ABVP and Left student groups.
Critics of the Investigation
University and ABVP Responses
Police action
Critics of the Investigation
Some students and teachers said police inaction was unacceptable given the available videos and CCTV footage, and questioned whether the investigation was fair.
University and ABVP Responses
The university said it had lodged an FIR and provided the information requested, but could not instruct police on how to investigate. ABVP also criticized the lack of arrests over its own assault complaint.
Responsibility for the violence
Critics of the Investigation
Students alleged that suspected ABVP supporters entered the campus, attacked students, burned political flags and hurled fireballs during the August 20 incidents.
University and ABVP Responses
ABVP said the campus action followed an alleged assault on its JU unit president during an August 19 clash and described its entry as an effort to address the situation.
Political influence
Critics of the Investigation
A student argued that remarks by Suvendu Adhikari linking the attackers to his side or the BJP raised concerns about whether police could conduct an impartial probe.
University and ABVP Responses
The article reports the remarks and ABVP’s position but does not include a direct response from Kolkata Police or Suvendu Adhikari addressing the fairness allegation.
- Main incident date
- August 20
- Status after one month
- No arrests had been made by September 21.
- Police evidence
- CCTV footage, mobile-phone videos and television footage were in circulation; police collected university CCTV footage.
- University records requested
- Police sought course, enrollment, contact and address details for 18 students on September 2.
- Questioning
- Two ABVP students were called for general questioning in late August.
- Charges in university complaint
- The complaint cited trespassing, unlawful assembly, rioting, arson, mischief, criminal intimidation and property-damage provisions.
- University response
- Vice-chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said the university had submitted all details requested by police.