Fresh clashes between activists of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) broke out outside the Jadavpur University (JU) campus in South Kolkata on Thursday, 20 August, just hours after a similar confrontation the previous night left several students injured. The violence also resulted in damage to the university's engraved emblem — a design attributed to renowned painter Nandalal Bose.

How the Violence Unfolded

Both student organisations had separately organised protest marches to condemn the overnight clashes on the JU campus. The SFI rally set off from the 8B Bus Stand crossing in Jadavpur, while ABVP supporters began their march from Golpark Crossing.

A joint deployment of Kolkata Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) erected barricades to halt the SFI rally near its starting point. The ABVP march was permitted to advance toward Jadavpur Police Station, where a separate police-CAPF cordon brought it to a stop.

Tension surged when a section of ABVP activists broke through the barricades and moved toward the university's main gate. On learning of this, SFI activists at the 8B Bus Stand crossing also attempted to breach their cordon — and some succeeded in crossing the police line.

Two Confrontations, One Damaged Emblem

Two distinct clashes followed. The first erupted at the 8B Bus Stand crossing between SFI activists and security personnel. The second, more serious confrontation broke out directly in front of the main gate of Jadavpur University between SFI and ABVP supporters.

During the second clash, the engraved emblem of Jadavpur University — designed by Nandalal Bose — was reportedly damaged, drawing sharp condemnation from faculty and alumni circles.

FIR Filed; 11 Named in Wednesday Night Case

The Jadavpur Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 11 individuals under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the clashes inside the campus on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Police stated that all 11 accused are associated with the SFI or other Left-wing student organisations.

This is the second consecutive day of organised student violence at one of West Bengal's most prestigious institutions, raising questions about campus security and the role of political student bodies in university spaces.

What the Student Groups Said

SFI accused the ABVP of bringing outsiders onto the university campus and orchestrating attacks on students. SFI general secretary Srijan Bhattacharya challenged the ABVP to contest the students' union through democratic elections rather than resort to violence.

The ABVP has not publicly responded to the specific allegations as of the time of reporting. With police presence remaining heavy around the campus, further developments are expected as both sides have signalled they will continue their agitation.