Violent Clashes Erupt on Jadavpur University Campus as Leftist Students and ABVP Supporters Clash
Tumult erupted on the Jadavpur University (JU) campus in Kolkata on Monday evening, as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Students Federation of India (SFI) supporters clashed, leaving several injured. The incident occurred amidst a statewide student strike called by the SFI, AIDSO, and other Left-affiliated organisations to protest a recent incident involving a student being injured by a vehicle driven by West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, allegedly aimed at quashing their protest against the government.
According to police, the ABVP members were initially stopped by security guards at least a kilometer from the campus, but some supporters managed to breach the gates near Gate Number 3. This prompted a group of SFI supporters to rush to the spot, leading to a physical confrontation. A large police contingent was subsequently deployed to restore order.
The event that led to the clash is a result of a long-standing political rivalry between the Left and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The SFI has accused the TMC and its student wing, the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), of trying to quash their movement and silence student voices. In response, SFI members and other left-leaning organizations decided to go on a statewide strike, which was met with resistance from the TMC supporters.
As the strike unfolded, violent incidents were reported from various universities, including Vidyasagar University, Medinipur, Panskura Banamali College, Purba Medinipur, and North Bengal University in Siliguri. SFI members were allegedly targeted by the police in Midnapore, while TMCP and Leftist student bodies clashed in Vidyasagar University, Medinipur, and Panskura Banamali College in Paschim Medinipur.
The SFI, in a statement, alleged that the police and TMCP supporters attacked their comrades on several university campuses, leading to injuries on both sides. SFI state secretary Debanjan Dey claimed that their strike received widespread support from students across all universities in the state, despite the attempts to disrupt it.
In the midst of the escalating tensions, TMC leader Dabangshu Bhattacharya disputed the SFI’s account of the Saturday incident, suggesting that a student was injured by a different vehicle. SFI leader Srijan Bhattacharya, however, countered, “We know the TMC, they are lying and showing a different person to support their false claim.”
The ongoing political blame game between the TMC and the Left-affiliated student organizations continues to exacerbate the situation, with Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari demanding the deployment of central forces at the university. As the conflict continues to simmer, it is unclear how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/kolkata-several-injured-in-fresh-violence-at-jadavpur-university-as-abvp-sfi-supporters-clash-9866792/
Category : Cities,Kolkata
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Publish Date: 2025-03-04 01:05:00
