JNU protest turns violent; JNUSU, ABVP accuse each other of attacks

NEW DELHI: Tensions flared on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University after student groups aligned with the Left and Right accused each other of unleashing violence during a protest march in the early hours of Monday, PTI reported. According to students, the alleged incident took place at around 1.30 am on Monday, where several students got injured in an alleged stone pelting after a scuffle broke out among students. According to the statement, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) had called for a "Samta Juloos" towards the East Gate, demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the revocation of a rustication order. Protesters alleged the administration did not engage with the march and instead allowed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members to confront them. However, ABVP rejected the allegations and accused Left-backed organisations of provoking clashes and spreading misinformation about the incident. Left-backed groups, including All India Students' Association (AISA), claimed ABVP activists pelted stones at the JNUSU encampment and attacked "unarmed students," leaving several injured. According to the purported videos shared by several students caught in the standoff, there were scenes of confusion and fear on the campus as rival groups traded violence near the protest site. University authorities did not respond to queries immediately. According to students, the situation on campus remained tense.