Clash at JNU over ‘Ravan Dahan’ poster depicting Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam
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New Delhi: A clash broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Thursday evening during a Durga idol immersion procession on Dussehra. The violence occurred near Sabarmati T-Point after tensions flared over a controversial poster.
According to JNUSU President Nitish Kumar, the confrontation began when a poster depicting jailed student leaders Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam as Ravan was circulated earlier in the day. “Students from other groups were protesting against it when the ABVP’s Durga Visarjan procession reached the spot, and the situation turned chaotic,” Kumar said.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) accused Left-affiliated groups, including AISA, SFI and DSF, of launching an attack. “They violently attacked the immersion procession, pelted stones, and even targeted female students. This is not just violence, but an assault on our traditions,” the ABVP said in a statement.
However, Kumar alleged that ABVP members halted their DJ at the tea point for nearly half an hour, raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” and “Yogi ji’s bulldozer justice is here,” and later resorted to waving slippers.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) rejected ABVP’s allegations, accusing the group of politicising religion on campus. “ABVP is trying to communalise the campus through such programmes. This is nothing but propaganda,” AISA said.
The poster at the centre of the controversy portrayed Khalid and Imam—both jailed since 2020 under UAPA charges linked to the Delhi riots conspiracy case—as Ravan. The 2020 riots, which broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), left 53 people dead and hundreds injured. Both Khalid and Imam deny the charges.
Last week, the Supreme Court directed Delhi Police to respond to their bail pleas after repeated rejections by lower courts.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
