ABVP-Left clash at Jadavpur University, tensions spill onto Kolkata streets

A clash between ABVP and Left student groups at Jadavpur University over a general body meeting spilt into protests outside the campus. Rival allegations, a fire at Aurobinda Bhavan and political interventions deepened the standoff.ABVP stages protest outside Jadavpur University (Photo: ITG)Tension continued at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University and surrounding areas even 12 hours after a violent clash broke out between members of the RSS-linked Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and several left-leaning student organisations over a general body meeting. Both sides accused each other of bringing outsiders onto the campus and assaulting their members.Following the clash, the Kolkata unit of the ABVP called for a gathering in South Kolkata, followed by a march to the university at 11 am. Tensions escalated during the protest when some demonstrators confronted the police while attempting to breach barricades outside the university campus.Meanwhile, some students alleged that ABVP members climbed onto the university gates and threw stones and bricks at students during the march. They also accused ABVP members of damaging the university’s historic emblem, designed by legendary Bengali artist Nandalal Bose.The students and the leftist organisations also held separate rallies in the presence of a heavy police force and CRPF personnel. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE UNIVERSITY ON WEDNESDAY?The confrontation began during a general body meeting at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students' Union (FETSU) late Wednesday night. It soon turned into a physical scuffle, with members of the ABVP and the Left camp — comprising the Student Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Student Front (DSF) and the Democratic Student Organisation (DSO) — attacking each other.As the scuffle escalated, several students were injured and taken to the nearby KPC Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Later that night, BJP MLA from the Jadavpur Assembly constituency, Sarbari Mukherjee, visited the hospital and spoke to some of the injured students. Talking about the violence, ABVP functionary Shubhabrata Adhikari alleged that 70-80 people had attacked ABVP supporters and claimed that several outsiders were involved. He said the organisation was filing FIRs in connection with the incident.The RSS-linked organisation also questioned the legitimacy of the general body meeting, arguing that there is currently no active student union and that neither the state government nor the university has issued any notification regarding student elections.The Left student organisations, however, denied the allegations.FIRE BREAKS OUT AT MAIN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGDuring the altercation, some students, mostly belonging to the Left groups, were locked inside Aurobinda Bhavan, the university’s administrative headquarters. They alleged that some outsiders, whom they claimed had been brought in by the ABVP, threw burning substances at Aurobinda Bhavan, triggering a fire.They also alleged that the outsiders, along with other ABVP members, threw glass bottles at students. The students expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the police and university authorities, alleging that they failed to prevent the violence.The ABVP, however, denied any involvement in causing damage on the university premises. Instead, the organisation claimed that its members had been attacked and staged a protest outside the university gate.MLA SARBORI MUKHERJEE VISITS SPOTThe incident drew the attention of the state’s political circles, with BJP MLA Sarbori Mukherjee rushing to the spot.Speaking to the media, she blamed the Left student organisations for the skirmish inside the campus.“If anyone thinks that Jadavpur is a haven of the Maoists, the Naxalites, and the anti-nationals, then they are wrong. We will find each one and take necessary measures against them,” she said.She also questioned how a union could call a general body meeting when the student body is defunct, and its term expired years ago.However, several students alleged that Mukherjee played a role in instigating the violence. While speaking to the media and others, she reportedly said that if “anti-national forces” did not surrender at the police station within an hour, the university would witness “never-before-seen mayhem."Students alleged that her provocative remarks further aggravated the situation.Meanwhile, Samik Bhattacharya, the state BJP chief, distanced the party from yesterday’s incident as he said that ABVP is not linked to the BJP and the responsibility for their activities does not fall on the party.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Aug 20, 2026 19:43 IST