Additional police force deployed after clash in Himachal Pradesh University
A clash broke out between activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Students Federation (SFI) today at Himachal Pradesh University, leaving several activists injured. The police reached the campus to resolve the matter. Additional personnel had been deployed at the university.
The ABVP activists accused the SFI members of physical assault and unruly behaviour on the university campus. The SFI has denied the allegations.
In a statement, ABVP campus secretary Avinash said a violent incident occurred early this morning at the university’s chowk. He alleged that when the ABVP activists were present at the university’s gate to welcome new students, the SFI members deliberately pushed them and used abusive language towards the ABVP activists, including female members.
“When ABVP members tried to intervene, a clash broke out, resulting in injuries to several ABVP members,” he said. The situation escalated when two male and a female members of the ABVP were allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon by SFI members near the Swami Vivekananda Building.
Denying the allegations, the SFI accused the ABVP members of spreading communalism in the university. SFI campus secretary Sunny Seakta said several ABVP activists were making comments against an SFI activist. The matter escalated and the ABVP activists resorted to violence, he said. He alleged that an ABVP activist was carrying a sharp weapon.