Violent Clashes Erupt at JNU During Late-Night Protest March
A protest march at Jawaharlal Nehru University descended into violence in the early hours of Monday, resulting in multiple student injuries and creating a highly tense atmosphere across the campus. According to PTI reports, the violent incident unfolded around 1:30 AM when a scuffle between rival student groups allegedly escalated into widespread stone-pelting.
Confusion and Competing Claims Follow Morning After Clashes
By Monday morning, clarity had been replaced by confusion and competing narratives, with both Left- and Right-aligned student organizations blaming each other for instigating the violence. The contrasting accounts have made it challenging to establish a definitive sequence of events.
The March and Its Triggering Factors
The protest had been organized by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), which announced a "Samta Juloos" march toward the campus East Gate. The student body was demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Shantisree Dhulipudi Pandit and the revocation of rustication orders against five students.
According to a TNN report, the JNUSU's demand for the Vice Chancellor's resignation stemmed from remarks she allegedly made during a podcast discussion about UGC regulations. The student union characterized these comments as "derogatory remarks on Dalits and about UGC Equity regulations." Specifically, the VC was reported to have stated that Dalits and Blacks "cannot progress by being permanently a victim or playing the victim card." However, Pandit has firmly dismissed these charges and denied making any such objectionable comments.
The five students referenced in the protest demands were rusticated in earlier semesters for allegedly participating in vandalism during a protest last year.
Protesters Allege Administrative Complicity
Protesters have alleged that university administration officials failed to engage with the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to confront them directly. In a post on X on Monday, the JNUSU described the episode as a "violent attack" and announced a press conference scheduled for 11 AM.
ABVP Issues Sharp Counter-Allegations
The ABVP has strongly rejected these allegations. PTI reported that the organization accused Left-backed groups of provoking the clash and spreading misinformation. In its own statement on X, ABVP termed the episode "brutal" and claimed that "students have been severely injured after a shocking attack by Left-affiliated groups, their only fault was studying peacefully in the library."
Video Evidence Shows Panic But Questions Persist
According to PTI, purported videos shared by students displayed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with groups shouting and running amid what appeared to be stone-pelting incidents. Left-backed groups, including the All India Students' Association (AISA), claimed that ABVP activists attacked "unarmed students" and pelted stones at the JNUSU encampment. The ABVP, however, maintained that its members were the primary targets of the violence.
University authorities did not immediately respond to media queries, PTI noted. Students informed the agency that the campus atmosphere remained tense throughout Monday morning as the community grappled with the aftermath of the violent clashes.
