JNU: Clashes Between ABVP, Left Student Groups, Many Injured

New Delhi: A confrontation between students from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-affiliated groups at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) late last night resulted in several injuries. The clash occurred during a General Body Meeting (GBM) held to discuss the upcoming student organization elections.

Both factions have filed complaints regarding the incident. The university administration has yet to release a statement on the matter. A university official said that several students have been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, reported PTI.

One video captures a man assaulting students with a stick, while another shows someone hurling a bicycle at students.  Students representing both the ABVP and Left groups have lodged police complaints against each other.

#BreakingNews: JNU में छात्र संगठनों में फिर बवाल, ABVP, लेफ्ट के छात्रों में झड़प, छात्र संगठन के चुनाव को लेकर विवाद #ABVP #JNU | @supreetanchor @Nidhijourno pic.twitter.com/9UzzxCp1NH — Zee News (@ZeeNews) March 1, 2024

Blame Game After JNU Clash

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad JNU blamed the attack on students on the Left unions and said that they would stand for the rights of students.
"ABVP JNU condemns this brutal attack on students and will always stand for rights of students. Common Students who came to attend SL School GBM at School of Languages were brutally attacked with sharp objects by LEFTIST GOONS. Just because they were asking for a fair chance to participate and vote in the school GBM. Some students faced severe injuries," ABVP JNU posted on X.

"Atleast six people have been injured. The fight was started by them (AISA) and we have filed the complaint. The selective video have been released. These communist attacked us from the back and at that time were not able to record the video when we were attacked. They were all hitting us. In the self defence we attacked them as security people were not coming to help us. The issue started after questioning the process of EC process," Umesh Chandra, ABVP President told reporters on Friday.

While the Left-wing students accused the ABVP student wing of creating a ruckus and allegedly disrupting the selection process for the election committee.
"The last day of the GBM at the School of Languages witnessed another round of violence by ABVP goons. Initially attempting to disrupt the selection process for the election committee, the ABVP resorted to physical violence against students when thwarted by JNU students. The ABVP goons were seen wielding rods and targeting and beating common students indiscriminately," the AISA stated.

"The entire day these lumpens kept on disrupting the process of the GBM. They singled out the muslim students and they opposed whenever any muslim student propose their names for upcoming election committee. They also vitiated the atmosphere of school GBM premises by threatening students, by sexist and casteist slurs," AISA further stated.

The Left-wing students further alleged that two senior students of Ph.D. scholars and a senior AISA activist were chased and beaten up by the goons of ABVP.

"This is not the first incident of violence that occurred yesterday. Another lumpen who abused students for singing the national anthem, also misbehaved with security officials at the GBM premises, as multiple videos clearly depict his misconduct," they alleged.

The student union said that the JNU community must stand up and rise against this violence and the politics of intimidation.

"The VC office must acknowledge this act of vandalism and violence by the ABVP goons, whose faces are clearly visible and are seen in the videos circulating online. These perpetrators must be punished; they should be booked under relevant sections for unleashing such unprecedented violence," they said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police said they have received a formal complaint on the matter from both sides.

"We have received complaints from both sides. We are examining the complaints. The Police have come to know about three injured," the Delhi Police stated.

The university administration did not provide an immediate response, and the exact number of injured students from the incident remains unconfirmed.