Police Complaint Filed Against Azim Premji University Students Over Kashmir Event

Incident Overview

Azim Premji University has lodged a police complaint against students who intended to host an event focused on Kashmir at their Bengaluru campus, as reported on Thursday.

The gathering was organized by a group named Spark Reading Circle APU to discuss the Kunan Poshpora incident, which involves serious allegations of mass rape by security forces in two Kashmir villages back in February 1991.

Protests Erupt

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) labeled the event as an “anti-national activity” and staged a protest on the same day. Members of the ABVP reportedly vandalized university property, including signage, and clashed with security personnel and students.

Subsequently, eighteen ABVP members were taken into custody by the police.

University's Response

Following the protest, Rishikesh BS, the Registrar of Azim Premji University, filed a police report against the Spark Reading Circle APU, asserting that the event was conducted without the necessary permissions.

The university's regulations require prior approval for any campus events, and the administration claimed that the Spark Reading Circle APU is not an officially recognized group within the institution.

Authorities expressed concerns that “unknown individuals” were misusing the university's name to disseminate potentially inflammatory content.

A first information report (FIR) has been filed based on the complaint.

Student Council's Reaction

On Thursday, the Student Council of Azim Premji University criticized the police complaint against the students, describing it as an example of “asymmetry in outcomes.”

While acknowledging that organizing an event without administrative consent could be a protocol breach, they argued that such issues should be resolved internally rather than through legal action.

The council highlighted the disparity in treatment, noting that those who caused disturbances on campus were granted bail, while the students who organized a peaceful event faced serious charges.

They asserted that responding to the situation with a criminal FIR undermines the university's commitment to fostering intellectual freedom.

ABVP's Stance

Prior to their protest, the ABVP issued a statement condemning the event as “anti-national” and called for stringent action against both the student group and the university administration for permitting the gathering.