Violence erupted at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, leaving 34 people injured, including students and professors. On Sunday, masked attackers armed with iron rods and sticks stormed the campus, targeting left-leaning students protesting fee hikes. The assailants, shouting Hindu nationalist slogans, went unchecked by police, leading to criticism that authorities failed to intervene. Among the injured was Aishe Ghosh, the student union president, who was struck in the head and required 16 stitches.
Students and faculty accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), of orchestrating the attack, though the group denied involvement. Videos of the assault sparked outrage across India, with Amnesty International condemning the failure of authorities to protect students. Opposition parties demanded answers, while the government promised swift action.
The attack follows tensions from protests against the controversial citizenship law passed by the BJP in December. Similar incidents, like the violent handling of student protests at Jamia Millia Islamia University, have raised concerns about police conduct during student demonstrations.