Students protest against ABVP members after vandalism at APU over Kunan Poshpora discussion
Bengaluru: Hours after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members allegedly vandalised Azim Premji University premises on Tuesday, hundreds of students gathered in the campus to protest against the alleged violence.
According to a report by Maktoob, the vandalism is linked to a discussion on the 35th anniversary of the Kunan Poshpora mass rape organised by members of the student collective Spark Reading Circle to mark the anniversary of the alleged mass rape of Kashmiri women in Kunan and Poshpora villages on February 23, 1991.
The discussion was initially scheduled for 6 pm and later rescheduled to 8:30 pm.
Quoting students present on campus, Maktoob reported that ABVP members allegedly assaulted a Muslim student and vandalised university property.
In a separate statement issued by All India Students Association (AISA) condemned the incident.
“We congratulate the students of APU who came out united to resist the ABVP-RSS onslaught on our campus,” the statement read.
Students told the portal that the university’s name board was defaced during the incident, with the words “Ban Spark” written on it.
According to students who spoke to Maktoob, cadres of the Hindutva student organisation ABVP allegedly assaulted a Muslim student and vandalised the university’s name board in an attempt to disrupt the event.
AISA also alleged that “they (ABVP) members tried to intimidate AISA comrades and participants.”
A student who witnessed the events said that one student was physically attacked and that the incident prompted hundreds of students to gather in protest.
Videos circulated among students showed groups raising slogans against what they described as intimidation and violence on campus, while demanding action against those involved.
Students quoted by the portal said the event was planned as an academic discussion to reflect on justice, memory, and accountability in relation to the Kunan Poshpora case, which remains a sensitive issue with survivors continuing to seek justice. They said tensions escalated after opposition from ABVP members, eventually leading to the alleged violence.
The gathering continued late into the night, with students asserting their right to organise discussions within the campus without fear.
In a statement issued by students of APU, it was alleged that ABVP members entered the campus without permission and damaged university property in an attempt to silence a student-led discussion.
The statement accessed by the Maktoob said the incident amounted to an attack on academic freedom and democratic dissent, alleging that ABVP members vandalised property, assaulted a student, and intimidated organisers and participants.
The student who was assaulted was taken to a hospital for treatment and later filed a First Information Report (FIR) against ABVP members.
In the meantime, students also criticised the role of the police during the incident.
In their statement, they alleged that police personnel present at the site did not intervene while the vandalism and forced entry took place. They claimed no immediate effort was made to stop the group or calm the situation, calling the police response deeply concerning. Students also remarked that rules often cited regarding protest restrictions were not applied in this case.
“ABVP members suddenly began protesting on the campus, following which a few students were taken into preventive custody. Further investigation is underway. Security has since been intensified around the campus to prevent any further clashes,” Maktoob reported, quoting journalist Yasir Mushtaq, who reported the statement issued by the Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Rural.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) alleged that, “the ABVP’s repeated assault on campus democracy and the student community, whether it is APU, Bengaluru University, CUK, HCU, JNU, DU, Allahabad University and all other stems from their deliberate attack on the culture of debate, dissent and discussion that fosters critical thinking.”
“This particular attack was to silence a discussion organised under the banner of Spark* that sought to centre the voices of Kashmiri women and reflect on questions of justice, memory, and accountability,” the statement added.
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Three dead after drinking country liquor in Meerut, police initiate probe
Meerut (UP) (PTI): Three people died under suspicious circumstances after consuming country liquor in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Preliminary probe has not confirmed if they died due to the quality of alcohol, officials said on Saturday.
All three vomited and had abdominal pain after drinking the liquor on Friday evening and were rushed to a hospital where they were declared dead. A post-mortem will determine the exact cause of death, they said.
According to the police, Baburam (60), a grocery shop owner, Jitendra (35), who worked at his shop and Ankit alias Daulat (40), purchased liquor in the evening from a government-authorised country liquor outlet and began drinking at the spot.
Shortly after drinking the liquor, the health of all three deteriorated, and they began complaining of vomiting and abdominal pain.
The three were rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared Jitendra and Ankit dead, while Baburam passed away during treatment.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Police for the Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, District Magistrate VK Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey, and District Excise Officer Pradeep Kumar reached the spot and initiated an investigation.
SSP Avinash Pandey said that preliminary investigations have not confirmed whether the liquor was "toxic or expired". The bottling date was found to be February 11, 2026, and other bottles from the same batch received no such complaints.
He added that a post-mortem will determine the exact cause of death. Personnel from the Health, Forensic, Surveillance, and Intelligence teams have been constituted to investigate the matter.
Following the incident, the family members created a ruckus at the hospital. Police said further action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
