Clashes Erupt at Two West Bengal Colleges Linked to Jadavpur University Violence
Clashes broke out between student groups at Presidency University and Midnapore College on Friday, a day after violence was reported at Jadavpur University in West Bengal. The incidents involved supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Students Federation of India (SFI). The two organisations have a history of rivalry on campuses across the state, with SFI being the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and ABVP affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
At Midnapore College, SFI supporters organised a rally in the morning to protest the violence at Jadavpur University. According to witnesses, a group of ABVP members objected to the rally, and the two sides soon engaged in a physical brawl. Visuals of students clashing with each other were aired by local television channels and shared widely on social media. The SFI alleged that the ABVP members who confronted them were outsiders who had entered the campus. The ABVP, in turn, said that it is the responsibility of students to stop any "anti-national" activities on educational campuses.
Later in the afternoon, a group of students at Presidency University in Kolkata was making posters in solidarity with Jadavpur University students when ABVP members gathered outside the main gate, raising party flags. Tension escalated when SFI members also brought flags and assembled nearby to stage a counter-protest. Police arrived at the spot and dispersed the crowd, preventing the situation from escalating further.
After the police intervention, a group of ABVP members proceeded to Calcutta University, which is located close to Presidency University. There, they were involved in a verbal clash with Left-affiliated students. Witnesses reported hearing slogans of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and ABVP members saying that a "lesson" should be taught to Left students. The verbal confrontation did not lead to physical violence, but it added to the charged atmosphere on the campus.
Additional police force was deployed in the area and kept watch until late in the evening, officials said. The police have not yet issued an official statement on the sequence of events at any of the affected campuses. Both organisations have accused each other of instigating the violence.
Commenting on the Presidency University incident, SFI leader Bitan Islam said: "We do not have any problem if the ABVP wants to run their organisation in the campus democratically. However, such hooliganism in the campus is not acceptable. We condemn the incident." He further claimed that 30 to 40 people involved in the clash belonged to the ABVP's north Kolkata unit.
The developments follow a confrontation between ABVP and SFI at Jadavpur University on Thursday over a general body meeting. In the aftermath, late on Wednesday night, a group of people allegedly belonging to ABVP's local unit entered the campus in large numbers and vandalised the main building, Aurobindo Bhaban. They were seen burning SFI's flags inside the building, and several students remained trapped until morning, according to reports.
These incidents are part of a longer history of political polarisation on campuses in West Bengal, where student organisations affiliated with different parties frequently compete for influence. Over the years, similar clashes have led to demands for stronger security measures and greater neutrality in student politics. The state government has urged students to maintain peace and has assured that security will be provided to educational institutions.
The violence at Jadavpur University and the subsequent clashes at other campuses have raised concerns about the safety of students and the potential for external elements to disrupt academic life. No official confirmation of injuries has been made so far, and both sides continue to trade accusations. The police are expected to release a detailed statement after a thorough inquiry into the incidents.
