A day after clashes broke out between students of Jawaharlal Nehru University over non-vegetarian food being served in a hostel mess on Ram Navami, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Monday, 11 April.
Later in the day, an FIR was also filed by the Delhi Police on the basis of a complaint by members of ABVP.
Members of the ABVP, a right-wing students organisation, allegedly "badly attacked and injured students" who had eaten meat in the Kaveri hostel mess, as per a statement released by the All India Students' Association (AISA). Visuals emerging from the university showed students bleeding on Sunday evening, with some also allegedly requiring emergency hospitalisation.
2 FIRs Filed Over Incident
The Delhi Police had filed an FIR against unknown ABVP students under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 509 (Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman) 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) a probe is on to evidence and identify culprits.
The complaint was filed by student members of JNU Students Union (JNUSU), SFI (Students Federation of India), DSF (Democratic Students' Federation), and AISA early on Monday morning.
"Students belonging to ABVP have also intimated that they will be giving the complaint today morning. On receipt of the same, necessary appropriate legal will be taken," DCP South-West District said in a statement.
The FIR filed on the complaint filed by ABVP is registered under Section 323, 341, 506, 509, 34 IPC. Further investigation is underway to collect more evidence and identify the culprits, the cops said.
Meanwhile, the JNU administration said on Monday that it will "not tolerate" any violence on campus.
What Happened in JNU?
The JNU Students' Association (JNUSU) has blamed the ABVP for "forcing and attacking the mess committee to change the dinner menu and exclude the usual non vegetarian items in it for all students." On the other hand, the ABVP has accused 'leftists' of creating ruckus and obstructing a Ram Navami pooja celebration.
Videos also showed students engaging in heated arguments, requiring the intervention of university guards.
CPIML Politburo member Kavita Krishnan had said on Twitter that at least three students were injured and bleeding, adding that the Vasant Vihar SHO was present but no arrests had been made.
The row allegedly ensued over ABVP members stopping Kaveri hostel residents having non-veg food for dinner and also assaulted the mess secretary over the issue.
Student leader Kawalpreet Kaur alleged that students stood up against the imposition of the "ban" on non-vegetarian food in the university, leading to the outbreak of violence.
JNUSU, ABVP, College Authorities: Who Said What?
1. 'They Attacked Us With Rods, Flower Pots': JNUSU
The JNU Students' Association (JNUSU) has blamed the ABVP for "forcing and attacking the mess committee to change the dinner menu and exclude the usual non vegetarian items in it for all students." On the other hand, the ABVP has accused 'leftists' of creating ruckus and obstructing a Ram Navami pooja celebration.
"ABVP goons have created a violent atmosphere in Kaveri hostel today. They are forcing and attacking the mess committee to change the dinner menu and exclude the usual non vegetarian items in it for all students. The menu has food items for both vegetarian and non vegetarian students who can consume it based on their personal choice."JNUSU
"JNU and its hostels are meant to be inclusive spaces for all and not one particular section. Students from different physical, social and cultural backgrounds have different food preferences that must be respected and catered to. This act of ABVP's only signifies their exclusionary politics and right wing Hindutva policies to hegemonise democratic and secular spaces like JNU," the statement continued.
"They (ABVP) attacked us with rods, flower pots... injuring students, two guards. Despite intimating police of possible violence in the evening itself, there was no action. Even when violence broke out, we were threatened in front of police, but no action by them," the JNUSU said, ANI reported.
2. 'Ruckus Created by Leftists': ABVP
Here's what the ABVP said:
"The auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, residents of Kaveri Hostel, JNU had organised a pooja to celebrate the event. This event was supposed to be joined by a large number of common students of JNU. It is also noteworthy that Ramzan is being celebrated in the hostel very peacefully and simultaneously. This pooja was supposed to start at 3.30, but due to the ruckus created by leftists it could only start at 5.00 PM."ABVP
"This act of politicising a religious celebration by the left, is a shameful act and ABVP condemns it from core," their statement read.
Meanwhile, the AISA in a statement alleged that on Sunday morning, "ABVP goons tried to forcibly stop cooking of chicken in JNU hostel Kaveri."
According to the student group, ABVP members had tried to stop the preparation of dinner in the mess and during the row that ensued, "violently attacked students and activists."
3. 'Will Not Tolerate Violence': JNU
"The vice chancellor conveyed that no violence will not be tolerated on campus and appealed the students to maintain peace and harmony... Security has been instructed to be vigilant in preventing such incidents and submit a report immediately to the JNU administration," the university said in a statement.
"The students are also warned to refrain from involving in such incidents which disturb the peace and harmony on campus," the statement added.
The university issued a separate statement clarifying that there is no prohibition on serving of non-vegetarian food.
The statement dated 11 April (Friday), said,
...At the time of dinner, a ruckus was created over there and heated arguments were followed by altercation between both the groups in the Kaveri Hostel. Mess is run by student committee and the administration has nothing to do with the menu. The Wardens clarified on the spot and issued a notice when the ruckus was going among students that there is no bar on serving non vegetarian food."
It added that following the violence, the JNU administration intervened and took stock of the situation.
"We appeal everyone to exercise restraint and let the academic environment flourish in JNU without any external disturbances," the university further said.
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