1 week ago
Jadavpur University Clash Leaves Students Injured as Groups Trade Blame
Students from ABVP and left-leaning groups met at Jadavpur University for a student-union meeting.
An argument began during the meeting on Wednesday night.
The argument grew into a larger fight that lasted into Thursday morning.
Students from both sides were reportedly hurt, and some went to a hospital.
The university locked its administrative building as tensions increased.
Reports said fires were lit and some people tried to enter locked buildings.
The two groups gave different accounts of who started the violence.
ABVP said left-leaning groups planned an attack, while left-leaning groups said ABVP brought outsiders and damaged property.
Police went to the campus, and both sides announced protests.
A clash erupted during a Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union meeting at Jadavpur University on Wednesday night.
The confrontation continued into early Thursday, injuring students from both sides; some were taken to hospital.
ABVP accused SFI and DSO-DSF of planning the confrontation, while left-leaning groups accused ABVP of bringing outsiders.
Reports alleged fires, vandalism, stone-pelting, assaults and attempts to enter locked university buildings.
Police moved to contain tensions, while ABVP and SFI announced separate protests following the incident.
- Who
- Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union, the Students’ Federation of India, the Democratic Students Organisation-Democratic Students’ Federation and other student groups.
- What
- A dispute during a student-union meeting escalated into a clash involving injuries, alleged fires, vandalism, stone-pelting and attempts to enter locked buildings.
- Where
- Jadavpur University in Kolkata, including areas around its administrative building, Aurobindo Bhavan; some injured students were treated at KPC Medical College.
- When
- The confrontation began on Wednesday night and continued into the early hours of Thursday; a PTI report was dated August 20.
- Why
- The conflict reportedly began with an argument during a general meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union, though the groups disagree over who provoked the violence.
ABVP’s account
Left-leaning groups’ account
Cause of the clash
ABVP’s account
ABVP alleged that members of SFI and DSO-DSF used the student-union meeting to orchestrate a planned confrontation, including surrounding and shoving ABVP members.
Left-leaning groups’ account
FETSU and other left-leaning groups alleged that ABVP-affiliated students made provocative remarks and then attempted to attack them.
Presence of outsiders
ABVP’s account
ABVP alleged that people from outside the university participated in the attack and said police complaints were being filed.
Left-leaning groups’ account
FETSU, DSO and the Revolutionary Students’ Front alleged that ABVP and other affiliated groups brought outsiders onto the campus and into the meeting.
Vandalism and campus control
ABVP’s account
ABVP said its members were victims of the violence and announced a protest over the incident.
Left-leaning groups’ account
Left-leaning groups alleged that ABVP- and RSS-affiliated sections attempted to take control of university spaces, pulled down flags, set fires, damaged property and engaged in stone-pelting.
Key facts
- Meeting at issue
- General meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union
- Location
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Reported injuries
- Several students from both sides were injured, and some were taken to hospital
- Locked building
- The university’s administrative building, Aurobindo Bhavan, was locked during the tension
- Reported violence
- Reports alleged fires, assaults, vandalism, stone-pelting and attempted entry into locked facilities
- Police response
- Local police went to the campus to prevent the situation from escalating
- Follow-up protests
- ABVP announced a campus protest, while SFI announced a rally near the 8B bus stand
Quotes
Biswajit Roy
Secretary of the DSO State Committee
“Sections of the ABVP and RSS wreaked havoc in an attempt to seize the campus, tearing down flags, setting fires, and hurling abuse.”
telegraphindia.com
“The ABVP and NSF brought several outsiders to the FETSU general meeting.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
ABVP-Left students’ group clash at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University meeting
Jadavpur University: ABVP, Left groups clash during student union meeting, trade blame
Members of ABVP, Left-leaning student unions clash on JU campus
Tension grips Jadavpur University as ABVP, left-leaning groups clash; several students hospitalised
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