JNU clash over non-veg food on Ramnavami: What we know so far
Two groups of students clashed at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in Delhi on Sunday, allegedly over non-vegetarian food being served in the hostel canteen.
Delhi Police said that at least 16 students from the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were injured in the incident.
The incident took place at the Kaveri hostel at 3.30 pm, allegedly over meat dishes being served in the canteen on the day of Ramnavami.
Here is a look at what led to the violence and other key developments so far:
HOW THE VIOLENCE STARTED
Tensions began at the campus at around 4 pm on Sunday, April 10, when, according to the Left activists, ABVP students tried to stop non-vegetarian food from being cooked at the Kaveri hostel mess. JNUSU has alleged that the ABVP members also assaulted the mess secretary. Both sides have accused each other of pelting stones.
ALLEGATIONS AND COUNTER ALLEGATIONS
While the JNUSU has accused the ABVP of trying to stop the usual practice of non-vegetarian food being served, the RSS's student wing has alleged the Left activists of attempting to to disrupt a Ramnavami puja in the hostel.
“Every Sunday, both non-vegetarian and vegetarian food is cooked in all hostels. This is the usual practice. ABVP students were having some event near Kaveri hostel and when the vendor came to deliver chicken, they stopped him. They harassed and heckled both him and the mess secretary, saying that a havan is being held and non-vegetarian food can’t be cooked,” the Indian Express quoted Anagha Pradeep, councillor of the JNUSU, as saying.
ABVP members claimed that non-vegetarian food was not an issue.
“Common students of JNU were conducting a Ramnavami havan in the Kaveri hostel but the Leftists wanted to bring discord and came to prevent it from happening and stop people from joining. It was supposed to start at 3.30 pm but could only start by 5 pm because of the ruckus. No one objected to non-vegetarian food; this controversy has been created as a cover,” Umesh Ajmeera, secretary of the ABVP at JNU told the Indian Express.
WHAT DELHI POLICE SAID
Delhi Police said a case was registered based on a complaint filed by members of JNUSU, SFI, DSF and AISA on Monday morning against unknown ABVP students, reported India Today.
The FIR has been registered under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
"Further probe is on," the officials said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest Delhi) Manoj C said that ABVP members have said that they will also be filing a complaint later in the day. "On receipt of the same, necessary appropriate legal action will be taken," he said.
JNU ADMIN TO INVESTIGATE
A day after the violence on campus, the JNU administration has initiated an investigation in the matter. A report from the warden and security staff has been summoned. The administration said that strict action will be taken against students found guilty under university rules.
LEFT TO PROTEST AT DELHI POLICE HEADQUARTERS
Left-wing student organisations have called for a protest at the Delhi Police headquarters at 2 pm today over Sunday's violence at JNU campus.
JANUARY 2020 VIOLENCE AT JNU
On the night of January 5, 2020, around 50 masked assialants armed with iron rods and hammers went on a rampage at the JNU campus, leaving several students injured. Aishe Ghosh, JNUSU president at the time, was also severely injured in the incident. The miscreants had entered the server room from the back and damaged it completely. The FIR filed by the Delhi Police claimed that the police received nearly 100 calls on that night.