Jadavpur University clashes: ACP visits campus to probe graffiti, student violence
Synopsis
A senior Kolkata police officer walked into Jadavpur University on 25 August to investigate anti-national graffiti and violent student clashes — a campus dispute that has now drawn the Chief Minister, the state education minister, and a former High Court judge into its orbit. With an inquiry committee meeting set for 27 August and CCTV footage being collected, the next few days will determine whether this remains a law-and-order matter or escalates into a broader political confrontation over campus autonomy.
Key Takeaways
ACP Manoj Kumar Jha visited Jadavpur University on 25 August to probe graffiti and student clashes.
Clashes between SFI and ABVP on 19–20 August damaged the university's engraved emblem, designed by Nandalal Bose ; it was repaired by 21 August .
Police have sought CCTV footage ; university registrar Selim Box Mandal confirmed the handover process has begun.
An inquiry committee headed by former Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee holds its first meeting on 27 August .
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari posted graffiti footage on X , calling campuses 'sacred spaces' not to be used for anti-India propaganda.
Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chatterjee urged all stakeholders to maintain peace and protect the university's global reputation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manoj Kumar Jha visited Jadavpur University in Kolkata on Tuesday, 25 August to investigate allegations of anti-national wall graffiti inside hostel premises and clashes between rival student groups. The visit came a day after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly demanded a probe into the objectionable graffiti found inside the Arts Division Boys Hostel.
Police-University Meeting
ACP Jha held a 45-minute meeting with university registrar Selim Box Mandal, during which both sides discussed the graffiti controversy and the process for handing over CCTV footage from incidents on the preceding Wednesday and Thursday. Mandal confirmed that the footage collection process had been initiated, though he noted certain matters were confidential and could not be disclosed publicly. The Vice Chancellor was unable to attend due to illness, leaving Mandal to represent the university.
The Clashes of August 19 and 20
The unrest at Jadavpur University traces back to 19 and 20 August, when two separate confrontations broke out between activists of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) — the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) — and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The first clash occurred at the 8B Bus Stand crossing between SFI activists and security personnel. The second, more serious altercation took place in front of the university's main gate, where the engraved emblem of Jadavpur University — designed by renowned painter Nandalal Bose — was damaged. The emblem was subsequently repaired and reinstalled at gate number four on 21 August.
Inquiry Committee and Institutional Response
University authorities have constituted an inquiry committee headed by former Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee to investigate the 19–20 August clashes. The committee's inaugural meeting is scheduled for 27 August. State Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chatterjee condemned the incidents and appealed to students, faculty, and researchers to preserve peace on campus. He stressed that Jadavpur University must protect its standing as a centre of academic excellence, warning that 'petty troubles' should not undermine its global reputation.
Chief Minister's Intervention
On Monday, Chief Minister Adhikari posted a video on X displaying the graffiti and asserted that educational institutions are 'sacred spaces of learning and nation-building' that must not be used to spread propaganda or anti-India sentiment. The Chief Minister's Office had received videos and photographs of the objectionable graffiti from students through its grievance cell. This intervention has drawn the state government directly into what began as a campus-level dispute, raising questions about the boundary between administrative oversight and political pressure on autonomous institutions.
Point of View
And this incident follows a well-worn script. The real test is whether the inquiry committee, headed by a former judge, is given the independence to report without political interference — or whether its findings are pre-empted by the ongoing public pressure campaign from the Chief Minister's Office.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did police visit Jadavpur University on 25 August?
Assistant Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Jha visited Jadavpur University on 25 August to investigate reports of anti-national graffiti inside the Arts Division Boys Hostel and to coordinate the collection of CCTV footage related to student clashes on 19 and 20 August.
What happened during the student clashes at Jadavpur University?
On 19 and 20 August, activists of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed near the university campus in south Kolkata. The second confrontation, at the main gate, resulted in damage to the university's engraved emblem designed by painter Nandalal Bose; it was repaired and reinstalled on 21 August.
Who is heading the inquiry into the Jadavpur University clashes?
The university has formed an inquiry committee headed by former Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee. The committee's first meeting is scheduled for 27 August 2025.
What did Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari say about the Jadavpur University graffiti?
Chief Minister Adhikari posted a video of the graffiti on X, stating that educational institutions are sacred spaces of learning and nation-building and must not be used to spread propaganda or anti-India sentiment. His office had received the footage through its student grievance cell.
Who is affected by the Jadavpur University controversy?
Students, faculty, and researchers at Jadavpur University are directly affected, as campus tensions and ongoing investigations have disrupted normal academic activity. The incident has also drawn in state government officials, including the Higher Education Minister, who has appealed for calm.
