Clashes break out between rival student groups in Delhi

Members of the ABVP yesterday protested outside Ramjas College against an event that had PhD scholar Khalid, who was arrested on charged of sedition previous year, as a speaker. Teachers and students were locked in the college before police escorted them out later in the evening. JNU student Shehla Rashid was also invited for the event.

Delhi Metro officials shut down the exit number 5 and 6 of ITO metro station after students and teachers from SRCC, Hindu, KMC, Miranda college, Ramjas College, Ambedkar University, Jamia Milia Islamia and Mata Sundari joined the protest.

Speaking to Firstpost, Kumar alleged that the police has blatantly misled the media by releasing false information about the injuries sustained during the clash between Ramjas college students’ union and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers. Both ABVP and AISA are student political groups representing opposite ideological stands. He also shared a photograph purportedly showing an SFI member beating up an unidentified student. “They have come prepared with hockey sticks”, an AISA member told the Press Trust of India (PTI).

ABVP members were, however, kind to their “own” journalists as they reportedly welcomed the arrivals of Zee News’s crew.

Thick police presence was seen in the college and around the canteen area, recalls student. He said the Crime Branch will carry out a thorough investigation including complaints by rival student groups about the incident.

“Additional DCP-I Esha Pandey will conduct an inquiry into allegations of police high-handedness in the matter”.

Protesting against the ABVP members, the students of AISA and SFI marched the protest in the DU Campus. He said, “In North Campus, few policemen’s unprofessional actions has been noticed”. An enquiry is on.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Javadekar, however, ruled out government intervention saying DU was an autonomous institution and that the police would take required action. The situation is being monitored. “It was only after 5pm that the police made a decision to escort us off the campus while the ABVP people stood in front of us hurling abuse and threatening us”, said a student named Simran.

Several people were injured in clashes between student groups at the college. We were escorted in two police buses to metro stations beyond its vicinity. An assistant sub-inspector has also suffered a hairline fracture.

The principal of the college, Rajender Prasad, said he was in talks with the organisers to settle the issue.