Kolkata: Tension gripped Jadavpur University on Wednesday night after a dispute between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-backed student organisations over a proposed general body (GB) meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union (FETSU) escalated into violence, with allegations of stone-pelting, vandalism and the burning of flags and festoons on the campus.
Several students were reportedly injured in the unrest and taken to KPC Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police personnel reached the university premises late at night and intervened to bring the situation under control.
According to students and members of the Left student organisations, the immediate dispute centred on the GB meeting called by several Left-backed organisations, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). ABVP members questioned the legitimacy of the meeting and objected to what they described as an attempt by student organisations to convene a meeting without an elected student union being in place. The disagreement reportedly led to a heated exchange before turning physical.
ABVP Objects to GB Meeting, Left Groups Allege Campus Entry and Vandalism
Left student organisations alleged that a group of ABVP supporters entered the university campus late at night after gathering near Jadavpur police station. According to them, at around 12.30 am, the group moved towards Gate No. 4, allegedly forced open the closed gate and entered the campus. They further alleged that posters, flags and festoons belonging to SFI and other student organisations were torn down and set on fire. The group then reportedly moved towards Arvind Bhavan, which houses the Vice-Chancellor’s office.
Left-backed students also alleged that some students sitting in the field behind Arvind Bhavan were chased. They claimed that people from outside the university had also been brought onto the premises during the unrest. There were also allegations of brick and stone-pelting from both sides. Students inside Arvind Bhavan reportedly closed the gate amid the tension, while stones and bricks were allegedly thrown towards the building. These claims could not be independently verified.
ABVP Denies Allegations, Claims Its Members Were Attacked
ABVP, however, presented a different account of the night’s events. The organisation alleged that SFI and other Left student groups had unilaterally called the GB meeting despite the absence of an elected student union at the university. An ABVP member claimed that when its members went to protest against the meeting, they were attacked by a large group of students. According to the ABVP, around 70–80 people were involved in the alleged assault, following which its members resisted.
ABVP also alleged that Dalit students were among those targeted during the melee. The organisation subsequently held a protest outside Jadavpur police station, demanding the arrest of those allegedly responsible for the violence.
SFI’s All India General Secretary Srijan Bhattacharya rejected the allegations against his organisation and accused ABVP and BJP supporters of attempting to create unrest on the campus. In a video message, Bhattacharya claimed that students of the engineering faculty had gathered for a meeting when ABVP supporters allegedly entered the area and attempted to disrupt it. He said the initial dispute was between engineering students and alleged that SFI was not involved in the first confrontation.
Bhattacharya later alleged that BJP supporters entered the campus and vandalised university property. He questioned why there should be opposition to a democratic process involving students and accused the BJP and ABVP of attempting to create unrest at Jadavpur University.
BJP, Left Trade Charges as Rival Protests Planned at Jadavpur
The episode has also triggered a political face-off, with leaders on both sides blaming their opponents. Jadavpur BJP MLA Sarbori Mukherjee alleged that there is currently no elected student union at the university and questioned the legitimacy of the GB meeting. “There is no union in Jadavpur. Still, GB meeting money is illegal. ABVP protested against this. That is why the Left boys beat them up,” she said.
Mukherjee also alleged that anti-national slogans and activities would not be allowed on the campus and warned those involved in attacking ABVP members of legal and political consequences.
Her remarks drew criticism from Left student organisations, which accused the BJP of attempting to politicise the university and justify alleged violence on campus.
Following the night’s violence, both ABVP and Left student organisations announced separate protest programmes for Thursday. DSO State Committee Secretary Biswajit Roy alleged that a section of ABVP and RSS supporters had torn flags, set them on fire and vandalised parts of the university. He said his organisation would protest against the alleged attack.
ABVP, meanwhile, announced a protest procession from Golpark to Jadavpur at noon, demanding action against those it accused of attacking its members. With both sides planning demonstrations, the possibility of further tension on and around the campus remains a concern.
The violence has also prompted reactions from civil society members, former students and activists, many of whom expressed concern over the growing political polarisation of educational institutions.
Student leader Chhandak Chatterjee alleged that the episode was part of a wider pattern of attacks on educational institutions. He wrote on social media that the BJP was opposed to education, science and critical thought, and linked the Jadavpur developments to violence and controversies at other educational institutions.
He also warned that the situation could escalate if the administration failed to act promptly. Referring to reports of fires and alleged attempts to enter administrative buildings, he said the authorities would be responsible if a major incident occurred.
Social activist Saikat Bandyopadhyay also condemned the alleged attack, describing it as an assault on Jadavpur University’s democratic and academic culture. He wrote on Facebook, “Late at night, so-called Hindutva activists attacked Jadavpur University. There is no need for a cover-up; it was like a full-scale Taliban-style attack. When an incident happens, everyone’s version generally needs to be verified. But there was no need to do that here because, unbelievably, the attack was broadcast live on social media.”
“As a result, this kind of thing will continue at Jadavpur. It will happen at Presidency. It will happen at Asutosh. It will happen across Bengal. Earlier, Jadavpur alumni and students protested, but there were no such attacks then, nor was there any proud broadcast of an attack. Now this is happening across the state. What will you do about this attack? Not just this particular attack, but the attacks taking place across the state and the destruction of the pride of our democracy? It would be good if something were done. Otherwise, what else can I do? I will watch all of this unfold live from afar,” Bandyopadhyay added.
