3 Students Injured As ABVP, Left-Backed Groups Clash Over JNU Poll Committee Selection
The altercation, which was allegedly sparked by disagreements over the selection of election committee members at the School of Languages, spiralled out of control and turned violent.
The Delhi Police said on Friday that three students were injured in a clash between Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students in Delhi. The conflict broke out between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-wing organisations.
The altercation, which was allegedly sparked by disagreements over the selection of election committee members at the School of Languages, spiralled out of control and turned violent. The clashes between the two groups took place on Thursday late at night.
Some students have been admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital, according to a PTI report which cited an official from the University.
According to ANI, Delhi Police has responded to the incident, saying: "We have received complaints from both sides. We are examining the complaints. The Police have come to know about three injured".
#UPDATE | Delhi Police say, "We have received complaints from both sides. We are examining the complaints. The Police have come to know about three injured." https://t.co/eo8J906q0c
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024
Reacting to the reports of the clash, ABVP JNU president Umesh Chandra Ajmeera told news agency ANI: "Left students were attempting to rig the election process. The students of the School of Language objected. The entire process was halted for more than 3-4 hours. When the process was reconvened half an hour later, Aishe Ghosh (JNU president) announced four communist names and said that they had been elected."
"The workers demanded the names be disclosed and the selection process. Danish (AISF member) said that not four but only two old members have been chosen again. Aishe and Danish said contradictory things. Students were raising objections. Demands were being made to disclose the names, withdraw those names, and have selection through a free and fair process," he added.
"The Left students started heckling amid this and attacked students by using 'dafli' as weapons...More than 200 Left students attacked the 4-5 workers who were there," ABVP JNU president said.
#WATCH | ABVP JNU president Umesh Chandra Ajmeera says, "...Left students were attempting to rig the election process. The students of the School of Language raised an objection...The entire process was halted for more than 3-4 hours...When the process was reconvened half an hour… pic.twitter.com/Dqlee3ds4z
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024
Refuting the claims made by the ABVP President, AISA JNU vice president told ANI, "First of all, this was not a clash. This is a one-sided attack, a one-sided assault."
"Every school has been conducting a General Body Meeting (GBM) for the last two weeks, The last GBM was yesterday. The election body of School Language was supposed to be elected yesterday. Four names were elected but the ABVP hijacked the entire process," she added.
"When it resumed and the process concluded...we came to know that they had surrounded Danish (AISA) and were not letting him leave. We tried to speak with them but they didn't listen and started to launch an attack with sticks...They also hit me on my head...They do this under the protection of VC and the Police," AISA JNU vice president said.
#WATCH | AISA JNU vice president says, "First of all, this was not a clash. This is a one-sided attack, a one-sided assault...Every school has been conducting a General Body Meeting (GBM) since the last two weeks, The last GBM was yesterday. The election body of School Language… pic.twitter.com/1dRdzJqjrP
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024
In a video surfaced on social media platform X, a man is seen thrashing students with a stick. Another video shows a person throwing a bicycle at students.
Other purported videos from the incident showed individuals being mobbed and beaten by a group while university security personnel attempted to rescue them.
Both groups have blamed each other for the conflict over election committee member selection. They have also filed police complaints against one another.
According to a PTI report, no immediate response was available from the university administration earlier and the number of students injured during the incident could not be confirmed previously.
The incident reignited concerns about escalating tensions between various student factions at JNU, which is known for its politically charged atmosphere and active student body participation in sociopolitical issues.
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