Four injured in ABVP-SFI’s violent clash in HPU, cross FIRs filed

The injured students were identified as Smriti Sharma, a student of BCom final year, Jash, an MA student of the ABVP, and wounded SFI students were identified as Ankita and Ritesh, both BA final year students. Police said that the SFI volunteers allegations that objectionable remarks were made against a Scheduled Tribe (ST) student of their fold by the ABVP members are under investigation.

Sources said the assault on Wednesday at Ambedkar Bhawan Arts Block between two student unions is the fallout of March 11 bloody clash between the members of ABVP and SFI, in which nine students including four women were severely injured.

A video of the incident surfaced on social media, showing male and female students attacking each other with kicks and punches. Police confirmed that complaints and cross FIRs have been registered by both sides at the Boileuganj police station.

ABVP leader Dishant Jaryal alleged that the assault was linked to an earlier clash between the two unions in March this year. “Our volunteers Smriti Sharma, Jash and others were on their way to attend classes when SFI members passed objectionable remarks against them. They even snatched Jash’s bag. The verbal spat soon turned into physical assault. Smriti fainted during the scuffle and suffered internal injuries. Her medical examination has been conducted,” Jaryal claimed.

The SFI, however, rejected these allegations and blamed the ABVP for triggering the fight. “It was the ABVP members who started the argument. One of them passed derogatory remarks against a student from the ST community. When we objected, they attacked us. Our volunteers Ankita and Ritesh were injured in the assault,” Ankush Rana, an official bearer of SFI, HPU, said.

Rana also accused the administration of favouritism towards the ABVP members. “Some of those ABVP volunteers involved in the March 11 assault were later allowed to appear for exams and promoted to the next semester despite not meeting the minimum lecture attendance criteria. We have been protesting against this bias,” he alleged.

Inspector Baldev Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) of Boileuganj Police Station, said that cross FIRs against both student unions have been registered with the volunteers summoned for recording their statements. “The allegations made by the SFI that objectionable remarks were passed against one of their official bearers from the ST (Gaddi) community are under verification,” the SHO added.

University insiders said the latest clash is an extension of the violent confrontation between the ABVP and SFI volunteers on March 11, when sharp-edged and blunt weapons were allegedly used, leaving seven students injured.

Campus unrest between the SFI and the ABVP has become a recurring issue at the HPU, with both student groups blaming each other for inciting violence. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and further action will be taken based on evidence.

Outsider entered govt college in Shimla; FIR lodged

Police said that an outsider was arrested for forcefully entering the Rajiv Gandhi Government Degree College (Kotshera), Chaura Maidan, on Thursday. Police said that the FIR against the outsider was registered following the complaint of college Principal Gopal Krishan Chauhan. Police said the preliminary questioning of the apprehended outsider ruled out his previous criminal background. A case was registered at Boileuganj police station.

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