Bengaluru-based Azim Premji University issued an official statement on the ruckus created by a few individuals on Monday who shouted slogans, vandalised some of campus property, and assaulted a few of the security guards and students. The educational institution condemned the ruckus and violence that was unleashed by external group of people
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a demonstration against the University, alleging that an event at the institution was promoting separatism and cessation of Jammu and Kashmir and an insult to the Indian Army, as reported by PTI.
“Today evening around 6 pm a group of 20 people forced their way into our campus in Bangalore,” it said in a statement accessed by ANI. “They shouted slogans, vandalised some of the property, and assaulted a few of our security guards and students.”
Activists of the ABVP raised slogans and smeared the university’s nameplate with black ink and claimed that the event was part of a larger agenda to “divide” India and Kashmir.
The university reported the incident immediately to the local police station at Sarjapura, Bangalore. The police acted swiftly and rounded up the individuals.
They alleged that a programme conducted inside the campus by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) backed organisation Spark opposed India and promoted anti-national thoughts. They also claimed that the organisation was promoting that Jammu and Kashmir was not a part of India.
The university authority claimed that the individuals had forced their entry into the campus and protested about an event that they claimed was going to be held on the campus. “The Azim Premji University had not authorised any event of this nature. The University follows strict procedures before any event is held on campus,” an official statement said.
“This event which was allegedly planned by a small group of students did not happen at all,” it said strongly condemning the ruckus and violence that was unleashed on the Azim Premji University campus by this external group of people.
The poster of the programme shared by the agitators showed that it was related to the Kunan-Poshpora incident, which reportedly was held on February 23. It read, “Kunan-Poshpora saw one of the most gruesome incidents of alleged mass rape on the intervening night of February 23-24, 1991.” The protestors also claimed that when they objected to the event, they were detained inside the campus and allegedly assaulted.
“35 years on, not a single conviction has taken place. Despite there being constant pressure to close the case, the victims are still fighting an unequal battle for justice. This is just one among numerous instances of violence inflicted on the people of Kashmir,” the poster by Spark, a students’ body, wrote.
In a post on X, Bengaluru Rural District Police said that protesters had been taken into custody as a precaution and that all necessary measures were taken to ensure law and order was maintained. Investigation into the matter is ongoing.
The ABVP activists demanded a ban on AISA and its affiliate organisations immediately and an inquiry against the students and leaders organising such events on the university campus.
