Campus violence in India

Violence at universities and colleges in India

Student violence has become a serious issue for universities and colleges of India. The type of student violence can vary from political rivalries to shootings to sexual harassment.

## Incidents

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### Delhi, 1990

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In 1990, a student from Delhi called Rajiv Goswami self-immolated himself to protest against the reservations for the backward classes. This incident led to countrywide agitations against the then Prime Minister V.P.Singh.[1]

### Jamia Millia Islamia, 2000

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On 9 April 2000, two policemen came near Jamia Millia Islamia university campus to arrest two former students of the university for allegedly injuring another student earlier. Students in and around the spot interceded and did not let the police arrest the men.[2] Later, the policemen emerged with reinforcements and entered the university library. The police randomly caught two students, leading to a fracas between the two parties. Incensed over police entry into the library without permission, the students started a road blockade outside the university. Police reinforcements increased and attempts were made to remove the protesting students which led to brick-batting by protesting students. The police resorted to lathi charge and firing tear gas shells. The students returned to their hostels after the intervention of the provost but around 300-500 policemen from several police stations across South Delhi emerged outside the hostel gate. The police then destroyed hostel property, beat students (especially Kashmiri students) and hurled communal remarks. The police desecrated a mosque inside the hostel premises and assaulted the Imam.[3] A fact-finding report by People's Union for Democratic Rights called it "perhaps one of the worst ever incidents of police terror against students since the Emergency."[4][5]

### Kerala, 2007

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On 27 October 2007, a police officer was killed during a student clash inside the NSS Hindu College between ABVP and SFI activists in Changanassery, Kerala. The officer was hit by a wooden plank by the students.[6][7]

### Kerala, 2018

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In July 2018, an Islamist student leader stabbed and killed a communist student leader in Maharajas College, Kochi, Kerala. The incident took place when the two groups of students had a quarrel about displaying posters inside the campus.[8] In March 2018, communist student activists attacked the residence of the principal of the MES Asmabi College, Kerala and wounded the principal seriously. The attackers were not arrested because they immediately escaped to some foreign country.[clarification needed][9][10]

### Mahatma Gandhi Central University, 2018

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Main article: Mahatma Gandhi Central University protests

On 13 September 2018, Shakti Babu, is an undergraduate student of BA (Hindi Honours) at Mahatma Gandhi Central University was thrashed by some unidentified people as he was part of the students' core committee who were protesting against the Mahatma Gandhi Central University Vice-Chancellor (Arvind Agarwal) for his removal from university. He received internal injuries during the attack and was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.[11] He was getting threat calls for two days for raising voice against the Vice-Chancellor. A F.I.R was lodged against the Vice-Chancellor including the chief proctor and administrative secretary of university for the attack on him.[12]

### Kerala, 2019

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On 12 July 2019, communist students stabbed a student inside the University college campus in Thiruvananthapuram. The attack was carried out for the reason of "singing songs inside the campus along with lady students."[13]

In Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, the principal had to leave his job when the Hindu right wing students created an issue about the communist students defiling Hindu gods in a campus poster.[14]

As the political rivalries between the communist parties and the Hindu right wing students have disrupted the smooth running of the educational organizations all over the country. The issue is a bit more serious in southern states like Kerala where some students even resort to attacking the teachers and principals of the colleges.[14][9]

### Jamia Millia Islamia, 2019 Attack

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Main article: 2019 Jamia Millia Islamia attack

On 15 December, the Delhi Police entered the Jamia Milia Islamia University campus and allegedly assaulted several students after a mob of unidentified people set a few public buses on fire nearby. While police claimed they entered the campus to identify the agitators, several ground reports and eyewitnesses indicate that there was a brutal crackdown by Delhi Police on the Jamia campus.[15] The testimonies from those present in Jamia Millia Islamia University on Sunday, suggest that the police targeted individuals indiscriminately, even entering the mosque on campus and hurting a local cleric.[16]

### Aligarh Muslim University, 2019

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On the same day as the Jamia Millia Islamia attack, police and Rapid Action Force injured several students — including some serious injuries — by firing tear-gas shells, rubber bullets, stun grenades and pellets at students of the Aligarh Muslim University protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The security forces reportedly hurled communal abuses at the students. The forces fired tear gas shell inside hostel rooms and set ablaze vehicles belonging to students.[17][18][19]

### JNU, 2020

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Main article: 2020 JNU Attack

On 5 January in the evening a masked mob with iron rods attacked the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and injured students and teachers.[20]

### Gargi College molestations, 2020

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Main article: Gargi College molestations

## Beneficial Agitations

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According to Ratnadeep Chakraborty banning student unions alone cannot solve the issue of campus violence. Karnataka had tried banning students unions during 1989-1990 and that didn't help.[21][22]

Student agitations can help the good movements of society as well. In August 2011, large number of students from different campuses of Delhi bunked classes and joined the anti corruption agitation of Anna Hazare.[23]

In December 2012, student protests became widespread all over the country when a 21-year-old student was gang raped in a Delhi bus.[24] Student politics is closely intertwined with Indian politics. In the 1920s a large number of students participated in the freedom fight against the British rulers. During Indira Gandhi's rule, student leaders were suppressed and 60 students from JNU were imprisoned for one year.[25] Many Indian universities banned student organizations in this period.[citation needed]

## References

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1. ^ "The man who sparked anti-Mandal agitation - Hindustan Times". 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011.
2. ^ "Jamia tense after violent clash". The Times of India. 11 April 2000. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
3. ^ "STATE, POLICE AND JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA". 28 April 2000. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
4. ^ Alam, Mahtab (9 April 2021). "Over Two Decades Ago, The Forgotten Attack On Jamia Students". The Wire. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
5. ^ "Bloody Sunday: Brutal Attack on Jamia Students" (PDF). Peoples Union for Democratic Rights. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
6. ^ "Student politics: cop killed in Kerala campus violence". News18. 27 October 2007.
7. ^ Keralam, Haindava; Migration, H. K. (19 April 2008). "ASI Murder - Political Manipulations Exposed". Haindava Keralam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 7 February 2025.
8. ^ "A dangerous pattern of campus violence in Kerala". Sify. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018.
9. ^ a b "കോളജ് പ്രിൻസിപ്പലിനെ ആക്രമിച്ച കേസിലെ രണ്ട് പ്രതികൾ വിദേശത്തേക്ക് കടന്നു". Manoramanews.
10. ^ "2018-09-13 Mahatma Gandhi Central University". Scholars at Risk. 13 September 2018.
11. ^ "Bihar varsity student assaulted for 'criticising' vice-chancellor". The Indian Express. 14 September 2018.
12. ^ "2018-09-13 Mahatma Gandhi Central University". Scholars at Risk. 13 September 2018.
13. ^ "Violence erupts in University college campus in Thiruvananthapuram; student stabbed". India Today. 12 July 2019.
14. ^ a b "Row erupts over controversial Lord Ayyappa poster in Kerala college". India Today. 25 June 2019.
15. ^ "Jamia University slams Delhi Police over December 15 violence, demands high-level probe". India Today.
16. ^ "Jamia ground report: Police entered mosque, beat up imam and me, claims former armyman". India Today.
17. ^ "AMU protests: Report puts question mark on number of detained students". The Hindu. 19 December 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
18. ^ Ahmad, Salik (18 December 2019). "AMU: Student's Hand Amputated, 'Police Violence Worse Than In Jamia'". Outlook India. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
19. ^ "AMU violence: Court orders UP police chief, CRPF head to act against officers who attacked students". Scroll.in. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
20. ^ "Masked Mob Attacks JNU; Around 40 Including Students, Teachers Injured". NDTV.com. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
21. ^ "The Sunday Read: Return the power to us". Bangalore Mirror. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
22. ^ "Karnataka government urged to restart student elections". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
23. ^ "Students bunk classes, throng Freedom Park". Deccan Herald. 17 August 2011.
24. ^ Baruah, Joyshree (7 April 2018). "A look at some of the powerful protests that shook India". The Economic Times.
25. ^ "JNU: A crucible of democratic dissent". India Today. Retrieved 10 March 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Campus violence in India

Campus violence|

* 2020 Jawaharlal Nehru University attack
* 2019 Jamia Millia Islamia attack
* 2017 Delhi University protests
* 2016 Aligarh Muslim University campus violence

Campus sexual assault|

* Gargi College molestations
* Banaras Hindu University women's rights protest
* 2014 Jadavpur University protests
* 2023 IIT-BHU gang rape

School shooting|

* Euro International school shooting

Protests|

* Mahatma Gandhi Central University protests
* Navnirman Andolan
* Four Year Undergraduate Programme protests

Suicide|

* Rohith Vemula
* Fathima Latheef
* Payal Tadvi
* Sidharthan
* Mihir Ahammed

Disappearances|

* Disappearance of Najeeb Ahmed

Organisations / Movements|

* Society Against Violence in Education
* Pinjra Tod
* Students Islamic Organisation of India
* Ambedkar Students Association
* Fraternity Movement

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