“They Were Trying to Silence Us”: Jadavpur University Students Speak Out After ABVP Clash

A week after supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly entered Jadavpur University and clashed with students, no arrests have been made so far. A university-appointed probe panel is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Thursday.
Several students have raised concerns over campus security, especially the safety of women. Some female students alleged that they had to “run for our lives” after fireballs were reportedly thrown at them while they were hiding behind a locked gate inside the university’s administrative building, Aurobindo Bhavan.
Students have also questioned the police response and the delay in filing a complaint. They said CCTV cameras had recorded the incidents but no arrests had been made even after seven days.
Some students compared the incident to clashes and protests seen at universities such as JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia, claiming that attempts were being made to suppress dissent on the campus.
Sampriti, a research scholar at the School of Media, Communication and Culture, said students were deeply worried about the safety of women on campus. She alleged that ABVP supporters entered the campus twice on August 20 and questioned why no arrests had been made despite CCTV footage. She also alleged that students received rape threats and said university officials failed to respond when women were trapped inside Aurobindo Bhavan.
Rijupalika Mukherjee, a third-year History student, said a dispute between student groups had turned into a much bigger political issue. She alleged that the incident was used to intimidate students and prevent them from questioning the state government.
Shantanu Nayek, a second-year Geology student, described the incident as an attempt to take control of the campus through force. He said people who were not connected with JU were also involved in the attack. However, he added that students from all political groups, including the Left, Centre and Right, should have equal space on campus and that no student should be attacked for representing the ABVP.
Sabyasachi Sen, a third-year Construction Engineering student, accused the ABVP of using political influence and intimidation to silence opposing voices. He questioned why the police did not question BJP’s Jadavpur MLA Sarbori Mukherjee over remarks that students viewed as threatening. He also questioned the delay in filing the police complaint.
Sen said Jadavpur University has a long history of supporting freedom of thought and education. The university was established during the Swadeshi movement and was associated with several prominent figures and national education efforts.
However, Nikhil Das, a research scholar and ABVP unit president, gave a different account of the incident. He claimed that he was attacked by Left supporters during the August 19 general body meeting. He said the ABVP was working to promote nationalism on the campus and accused Left-wing groups of trying to maintain their influence over students.
Das also alleged that slogans such as “Azad Kashmir” and “Long Live Kishanji” were written on the university walls. He said the ABVP would continue to expand its presence on the campus and would not be discouraged by the opposition.
With the university’s probe panel beginning its work on Thursday, students are now waiting to see whether the investigation will identify those responsible for the violence and whether any arrests will follow.