A scuffle broke out between two groups of students during Diwali celebrations at Jamia Millia Islamia University, prompting police deployment outside the campus as a precautionary measure, officials reported on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night during a Diwali event organised by Rashtriya Kala Manch (RKM), affiliated with the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Police stated that no formal complaints have been filed.
According to authorities, the altercation began when one group of students disrupted the Diwali festivities. University security intervened, and the situation was brought under control.
Videos circulating on social media allegedly show students chanting “communal” slogans inside the campus. In response to reports of tensions, police were stationed outside the university as a precaution. Another senior officer confirmed that local police have been instructed to heighten surveillance around the area.
Despite the incident, ABVP plans to continue the celebrations with a ‘deep mahotsav’ on Wednesday evening. ABVP national media convener Ashutosh Singh emphasised that all festivals should be celebrated at educational institutions, stating, “If an Iftar party can be held, so can Diwali celebrations.” Singh alleged that some students, including Muslims, were assaulted by radical elements during the event and criticised the university for not taking preventative action. He also mentioned that ABVP intends to file a police complaint regarding the matter.
Efforts to contact Jamia Millia Islamia’s Officiating Vice Chancellor Mohammad Shakeel for comment went unanswered.
With inputs from PTI