Lucknow: Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) witnessed violent clashes on September 17 after students affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly attacked peers during a dispute over a Vishwakarma Puja. At least three students were injured in the incident.
According to students, ABVP members attempted to hold the puja inside the University Institute of Technology without prior permission, in violation of university rules. The program was stopped after objections, and both groups staged sit-ins near the main gate. The proctor assured students that the matter would be reviewed, but later that evening violence erupted.
Mrityunjay Kumar, a member of the Disha Students’ Organisation, said ABVP members attacked him and others with sticks and rods. He reported internal injuries, while another student, Ritesh, lost consciousness, and a Dalit student, Adesh, suffered serious wounds. Disha leader Varuni Poorva alleged that the attackers used rods, belts, and clubs, even targeting students in the campus canteen.
Students were taken to Lokbandhu Hospital, but they claimed both hospital staff and police delayed action. The hospital reportedly demanded an FIR before treatment, while police asked for medical reports before registering a case. Despite police presence on campus, students alleged reluctance to file charges.
An FIR was eventually lodged at Ashiyana police station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, though students accused authorities of diluting the charges. Disha has since called for demonstrations, framing the assault as part of ABVP’s divisive politics.
The university has not issued an official statement.
