JNU students injured in ABVP, AISA clash over election committee selection; VC warns of action

NEW DELHI: Two student groups of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) entered in a clash leaving many injured towards the end of the General Body Meeting at the School of Languages last night. Students of All India Students’ Association (AISA) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) indulged in violence over the selection of election committee members. Students of the two organisations were seen beating others with sticks, rods, and throwing bicycle in different video clips.

Following the incident, JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said that strict action will be taken against those involved, as per a PTI report. "The JNU (students' union) elections are conducted by students. It is their responsibility to ensure that it is a peaceful democratic process. The Inter-hostel Administration (IHA) oversees the conduct of the polls. Any complaints by the students' body will be looked into by the IHA. Very strict action will be taken against those found guilty irrespective of their political affiliation," the VC told PTI.

AISA claimed that ABVP ‘goons’ kept on disrupting the GBM process and opposed Muslim students proposing their names for the upcoming elections. Students including females were beaten by iron rods by the ABVP gang, AISA alleged.

“Another lumpen Praful, M.A., Korean from the same school could be seen picking up a bicycle and tossing towards the students gathered for the GBM. The despicable sight of Priyanshu, a student supposedly at the center of German studies, brazenly joining the gang of thugs of ABVP to physically assault a fellow student is utterly infuriating and reprehensible!,” the student body said in an official statement. AISA demanded action against the perpetrators of violence saying they should be booked under relevant sections.

On the other hand, ABVP alleged that the students led by JNU Student Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh launched an attack on students belonging to the bachelors and masters programmes at the School of Language, Literature and Cultural Studies.

“The assailants, reportedly associated with Ghosh and her cohorts, unleashed a wave of violence against the students, demonstrating an appalling disregard for human safety and dignity. Shockingly, even physically handicapped students were not spared from the brutality inflicted upon them,” ABVP alleged in an official statement.