Violent Clash at JNU Sparks Campus Unrest After Student Groups Violent Clash at JNU Over Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam Depiction

Key Highlights:

• Student groups ABVP and left-wing organizations clashed during Durga Visarjan procession at JNU campus on October 2, 2025
• AISA accused ABVP of organizing Ravana Dahan depicting former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, calling it Islamophobic propaganda
• Multiple students injured in stone-pelting incident near Sabarmati T-Point, with both sides trading allegations of violence and cultural aggression

Immediate Context and Campus Tensions

The violent clash at JNU erupted after tensions escalated between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and left-affiliated student organizations during Dussehra celebrations on October 2, 2025. The incident represents another chapter in JNU’s history of ideological confrontations, where religious festivals have become flashpoints for deeper political divisions.

The violent clash at JNU occurred when ABVP organized a Durga Visarjan procession that allegedly included controversial elements targeting former students. According to witness accounts, the confrontation began around 7 PM near the Sabarmati T-Point, a location that has previously seen student unrest. The violent clash at JNU highlights ongoing tensions between right-wing and left-wing student groups, with both sides accusing each other of disrupting campus harmony through divisive politics.

ABVP JNU president Mayank Panchal characterized the incident as “not just an attack on a religious event, but a direct attack on the university’s festive tradition and the faith of the students,” while emphasizing that his organization “will not tolerate such cultural aggression at any cost.” The violent clash at JNU has once again brought attention to the campus’s polarized student politics, where religious celebrations often become vehicles for ideological expression.

वामपंथियों ने अपनी असली हिंदू विरोधी और जिहादी मानसिकता को उजागर कर ही दिया। JNU में माता की मूर्ति का विसर्जन करने जा रहे विद्यार्थियों और मूर्ति पर पथराव किया गया। pic.twitter.com/ouODFzgUFk

— P.N.Rai (@PNRai1) October 2, 2025

ABVP Allegations and Response to Campus Violence

The ABVP alleged that left-affiliated groups, including the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF), “violently attacked” their Durga idol immersion procession. According to ABVP statements, several male and female students sustained injuries from stone-pelting during the violent clash at JNU, with the organization demanding strict administrative action against the perpetrators.

ABVP JNU minister Praveen Piyush condemned what he described as “stone-pelting and even attacking female students during a sacred ritual like Durga Visarjan,” calling such actions “condemnable and shameful.” The violent clash at JNU, according to ABVP accounts, involved systematic disruption of religious proceedings, with left-wing groups allegedly objecting to the very holding of the event on campus grounds.

The organization has consistently maintained that the violent clash at JNU represents an attack on religious freedom and cultural traditions within the university environment. JNU Students’ Union joint secretary Vaibhav Meena also condemned the incident, describing it as “a direct assault on the cultural harmony and brotherhood of the university.” The violent clash at JNU has prompted calls for enhanced security measures and administrative intervention to prevent future incidents of campus violence.

Left-Wing Organizations Counter-Allegations and Islamophobia Claims

The All India Students’ Association firmly rejected ABVP’s assault allegations and instead accused the organization of “using religion for political propaganda” through their Ravana Dahan program. According to AISA statements, the violent clash at JNU was precipitated by ABVP’s controversial decision to depict former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam as Ravana figures in their Dussehra celebration.

AISA characterized this action as “a blatant and dastardly display of Islamophobia, exploiting religious sentiments to harvest political benefits,” directly challenging ABVP’s narrative about the violent clash at JNU. The organization questioned why ABVP had not chosen figures such as Nathuram Godse, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, or leaders accused of inflammatory speeches during the 2020 Delhi riots for their symbolic representation.

The left-wing groups argued that the violent clash at JNU resulted from ABVP’s deliberate attempt to spread communal hatred through religious symbolism. AISA’s statement declared that “JNU rejects the politics of hate and Islamophobia,” calling upon students to “stand up against the divisive politics of RSS-ABVP.” According to these organizations, the violent clash at JNU represents a broader pattern of using religious festivals to target specific communities and individuals.

Historical Context and Campus Violence Statistics

JNU has experienced multiple instances of campus violence over recent years, establishing a concerning pattern of ideological confrontations. The 2020 campus attack saw masked miscreants armed with sticks assault over 39 students and teachers, with the incident remaining largely unresolved despite forming a Special Investigation Team. This violent clash at JNU continues a troubling trend where political differences manifest through physical confrontations on campus grounds.

According to University Grants Commission guidelines established in 2018, Higher Educational Institutions must implement comprehensive safety mechanisms including boundary walls, security personnel, CCTV cameras, and student counseling systems. The guidelines mandate that institutions create “fool-proof mechanisms and impregnable standards of safety” to protect students from physical, social, and psychological threats. However, the recurring violent clash at JNU incidents suggest implementation gaps in these safety protocols.

Campus violence statistics indicate that certain types of confrontations occur at higher rates in university environments compared to broader communities, particularly when ideological divisions intersect with religious or cultural events. The violent clash at JNU follows previous incidents including the 2016 sedition controversy involving Umar Khalid and Kanhaiya Kumar, and multiple Ram Navami-related confrontations between ABVP and left-wing groups. Educational administrators face mounting pressure to develop effective conflict resolution mechanisms that address underlying ideological tensions while maintaining academic freedom.

Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam Legal Status Analysis

Both Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam remain in custody under charges related to the February 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, with their prolonged detention without conviction drawing international scrutiny from human rights organizations. The violent clash at JNU gains additional significance given that these former students are central figures in the current controversy, with ABVP allegedly using their images in the Ravana Dahan ceremony.

The Supreme Court issued notices on their bail pleas on September 21, 2025, with Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and A.M. Singhvi arguing that it was “shocking students had remained in jail for over five years.” The case represents one of the most significant legal challenges related to anti-CAA protest activities, with prosecution authorities arguing that the violence was part of a “larger conspiracy” planned in advance. The violent clash at JNU occurs against this backdrop of ongoing legal proceedings and continued detention of the individuals depicted in the controversial Ravana effigies.

Final Assessment and Campus Stability Concerns

The violent clash at JNU represents more than an isolated incident of student unrest, revealing deeper structural issues within India’s premier educational institutions regarding ideological tolerance and conflict management. The incident demonstrates how religious celebrations can become vehicles for political expression, potentially undermining the inclusive academic environment essential for quality higher education.

Both ABVP and left-wing organizations have contributed to escalating tensions through their respective approaches to campus politics, with the violent clash at JNU highlighting the urgent need for institutional mechanisms that can address ideological differences without resorting to violence. The University Grants Commission’s safety guidelines provide a framework for preventing such incidents, but their effective implementation requires sustained commitment from university administrations.

The broader implications of the violent clash at JNU extend beyond campus boundaries, as these confrontations often reflect national political divisions and can influence public discourse on educational freedom, religious expression, and minority rights. As legal proceedings continue for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, whose alleged depiction as Ravana figures triggered the current controversy, educational institutions must develop more effective approaches to managing political tensions while preserving academic freedom and student safety.