Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In a shocking incident at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a PhD student with a disability was allegedly assaulted by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The victim, identified as Farooque Alam, is not only a dedicated scholar but also a senior activist associated with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).
According to NSUI’s official statement on social media, the attack occurred on Wednesday in the Kaveri hostel on the JNU campus. NSUI tweeted, “In a horrific incident in Kaveri hostel today, a senior warden of Kaveri hostel and their domesticated ABVP goons attacked NSUI activists and our senior activist Farooque Alam, who is a physically handicapped research scholar in JNU.”
NSUI students further alleged that the ABVP members assaulted Farooque to such an extent that he had to be rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi in critical condition. The incident has ignited outrage among the student community, with many lamenting that the prestigious institution is increasingly becoming associated with violence rather than its academic prowess.
The victim, Farooque Alam, is currently pursuing his PhD at JNU and was only two months away from completing his doctoral program. The unfortunate incident unfolded in the afternoon when the JNU administration arrived to vacate Farooque’s room in Kaveri hostel, following an unresolved legal matter.
ABVP students, who reportedly accompanied the administration, not only engaged in a heated argument with Farooque but also subjected him to physical assault. The severity of the attack was such that Farooque lost consciousness and had to be transported to AIIMS by ambulance.
In response to the controversy surrounding the Kaveri hostel incident, the JNU administration issued a notice, stating that an investigation would be conducted into the altercation involving the students during Farooque’s departure from the hostel.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), a prominent Left Student Union on the JNU campus, has also expressed its strong opposition to the incident. They have called upon all students to unite and protest against the ABVP, demanding justice for Farooque Alam and highlighting the need for a safe and inclusive campus environment.
The assault on Farooque Alam has not only raised concerns about the safety of students at JNU but has also ignited a broader debate about the role of student organizations and their influence within the institution. As the investigation unfolds, the incident has cast a shadow over the reputation of JNU, a university known for its history of academic excellence and vibrant student activism.
