ABVP Members Detained After Protest at Azim Premji University

Protest and Vandalism at Azim Premji University

On Tuesday, eighteen individuals affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were taken into custody following a protest against what they termed an 'anti-national' event at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru. Reports indicate that the protest escalated to vandalism of university property.

The ABVP, which is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, accused the university of hosting an event organized by a student group that portrayed the Indian Army negatively and included content they labeled as 'anti-national.'

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is the parent organization of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The event in question aimed to discuss the Kunan Poshpora incident, which involves allegations of mass rape by security forces in two Kashmiri villages back in February 1991.

In response to the situation, Azim Premji University issued a statement asserting that it had “not authorized any event of this nature.”

Prior to the protest, the ABVP released a statement denouncing 'anti-national, Kashmir separatist events and sessions against the Indian Army.'

According to the ABVP, Azim Premji University has become a venue for discussions undermining the sovereignty and integrity of India, promoting Kashmir separatism, and criticizing the armed forces.

During the protest, ABVP members reportedly defaced university signage with black ink. Some members entered the campus and spray-painted walls and signboards, prompting intervention from security personnel.

An unnamed student from the university reported that another student who questioned the vandalism was assaulted by ABVP members and subsequently required hospitalization.

The ABVP has also submitted a memorandum to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, demanding strict action against the student group that organized the event and the university administration for permitting it.

The university stated that around 20 individuals forcibly entered the campus around 6 PM on Tuesday, shouting slogans, vandalizing property, and assaulting some security guards and students.

Following the incident, the university reported the matter to the police, leading to the detention of the individuals involved.

The university clarified that the protest was against an event that had not been authorized and emphasized that strict procedures are followed for any campus events.

“This event, allegedly planned by a small group of students, did not take place at all,” the university stated. “We strongly condemn the chaos and violence instigated by this external group.”

In the aftermath, students at the university organized a protest against the ABVP's actions, calling on the government to take action against them.

Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru Rural district) Chandrakanth MV confirmed the detention of the ABVP members, noting that the police had not been notified about the protest.

“Upon learning of the situation, we quickly responded to control it,” he stated. “They should have provided written notice and informed local authorities prior to the protest. Citizens cannot take the law into their own hands.”