Jadavpur University Violence: ABVP, left-leaning groups clash; several students injured

Tension gripped Jadavpur University after a clash between ABVP and left-leaning student groups on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, with several students reportedly injured and police intervening to prevent the situation from escalating.

The confrontation reportedly began during a meeting of the faculty of engineering and technology students' union (FETSU), where an ABVP-affiliated scholar was present. A heated argument reportedly broke out between the ABVP and other students during the meeting. Later, the situation was brought under control.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) took to X to share video of the incident. The post reads, "ABVP-BJP-RSS goons arrived on bikes at midnight and unleashed violence inside the Jadavpur University campus, attacking students with weapons, vandalising union rooms, throwing stones and bricks and setting fire to students’ belongings."

PTI reports that Jadavpur University’s administrative building, Aurobindo Bhavan, was locked amid the escalating tension, with students gathering outside. A university official alleged that FETSU members slapped an ABVP university-unit worker, following which a mob allegedly comprising local BJP workers entered the campus around 1 am and beat members of left-leaning student unions. The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association condemned the alleged entry of outsiders and vandalism and called for peaceful academic activity on the campus. ABVP announced a protest on the university campus on Thursday, while SFI announced a demonstration at the 8B bus stand near the university, according to its state committee member Subhajit Sarkar.

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Hostel facilities vandalised

The situation escalated later in the night, when people alleged to be outsiders and associated with the BJP entered the campus. They allegedly pushed aside security personnel, set fire at several locations and vandalised hostel facilities.

The developments have triggered competing allegations from student groups. ABVP has accused left-leaning student organisations, including SFI and DSO-DSF, of orchestrating a planned attack during the FETSU general meeting. Left-leaning groups, meanwhile, have alleged that ABVP was behind bringing outsiders into the campus and was involved in vandalism.

Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed groups of people attempting to enter locked facilities on the campus while raising slogans. Fire incidents were also reported at multiple locations, while allegations of stone-pelting and mob violence emerged.

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Several people from both sides sustained injuries in the clash. Local police reached the university campus following the violence and intervened to prevent further escalation. MLA Sharbari Mukherjee also visited KPC Medical College to meet injured students undergoing treatment.

ABVP central working committee member Shubhabrata Adhikari said FIRs were being lodged against several individuals and that some members of the organisation were protesting at Jadavpur Police Station.

Abhinav Das, a philosophy student and member of the Revolutionary Students' Front, alleged that ABVP and NSF had brought outsiders to the FETSU general meeting. DSO State Committee secretary Biswajit Roy alleged that sections of ABVP and RSS were responsible for vandalism on the campus, including tearing down flags, setting fire and abusing students.

ABVP had announced a protest at 11 am on Thursday over the incident. The allegations made by the rival student groups could not be independently verified.