At least half a dozen volunteers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) were injured in a clash on the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) campus on Tuesday, police said. Videos of the clash went viral on social media.
Around 11 am, ABVP and SFI members entered into an argument, and a scuffle ensued, police said.
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As the scuffle turned violent, both sides used sharp-edged weapons to attack each other, they said.
The injured, identified as Pavinder, Ankush, Aryan, Jatin, Sanjay and others, were rushed to a nearby dispensary and discharged after administering preliminary treatment, sources said.
According to sources, women supporters of both student organisations were also present near the spot.
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Police said an investigation into the incident was launched, while the medical reports of the injured students were awaited. They added that a heavy police force was deployed on the campus to restore peace.
Police personnel after their deployment following clashes between SFI and ABVP activists, at the Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla, on Tuesday. (PTI)
Meanwhile, both organisations lodged cross-complaints against each other.
“Though the exact reason behind the clash is yet to be ascertained, members of both unions claimed that the clash broke out over the issue of a protest site on the university campus. Both sides claimed that sharp-edged weapons were used. Their claims are being verified,” a police officer said.
SFI campus secretary Ritesh Kumar said, “As part of an ongoing protest on the HPU campus over student-related issues, the SFI has planned a symbolic 24-hour strike today. But ABVP’s goons launched a violent attack using sharp weapons on SFI members on the campus to disrupt the strike. SFI activists Pavinder, Ankush, Aryan, Sanjay, Jatin and others were having breakfast at a dhaba near the university’s administrative block around 10 am when ABVP members attacked them with sharp weapons, including sickles, rods and knives. Shockingly, the attack took place in the presence of Summerhill police post in-charge ASI Bharat Bhushan and three other police personnel.”
Rohit Kumar of ABVP said, “SFI volunteers and activists have been harassing our supporters for the past several days. Today, SFI activists attacked our organisation members who suffered injuries. We have lodged a police complaint against SFI members.”
Students gathered at the Himachal Pradesh University campus after the clash between the activists of ABVP and SFI. (Express Photo) 
Police personnel after their deployment following clashes between SFI and ABVP activists, at the Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla, on Tuesday. (PTI)
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