A violent clash reportedly broke out between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, or ABVP, and Left-leaning student organisations at Jadavpur University in Kolkata, West Bengal, early Thursday morning.

Several students were reportedly injured during the confrontation, with some of them taken to hospital for treatment. The incident triggered tension across the university campus and surrounding areas.

Both sides have presented different accounts of how the confrontation began. ABVP and Left student organisations have accused each other of bringing people from outside the university into the campus and escalating the dispute.

 Dispute reportedly began over FETSU meeting

According to a university source, the confrontation began on Wednesday during a general meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students' Union, or FETSU.

Tensions reportedly increased during the meeting and eventually developed into a confrontation between rival student groups. As the situation deteriorated, the university administration building, Aurobindo Bhavan, was locked.

Following this, students from the two groups reportedly began demonstrations outside the police station. Tensions continued late into the night before the situation escalated further in the early hours of Thursday.

Reports also emerged of fires being set at some locations inside the campus. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show groups of students raising slogans and attempting to enter closed university buildings. The authenticity and circumstances surrounding the videos have not been independently established.

 Allegations from both sides

ABVP alleged that members associated with Left student organisations, including SFI and DSO-DSF, used the FETSU meeting as an opportunity to initiate a confrontation.

ABVP office-bearer Shubhrat Adhikari alleged that several people from outside the university were involved in the incident. He said the organisation was in the process of filing a police complaint and that ABVP members had gathered outside the Jadavpur police station in protest.

Left student groups rejected the allegations. They accused ABVP of bringing outsiders into the university and attempting to enter and take control of university spaces.

Leaders associated with DSO alleged that flags belonging to student groups were pulled down during the confrontation and that fires were set at some locations. They blamed people associated with ABVP for the escalation.

 Protests announced by both sides

Following the incident, both sides announced separate protest programmes.

ABVP announced a protest at the university campus over the incident. In response, SFI state committee member Subhajit Sarkar announced a protest rally near the 8B bus stand close to Jadavpur University.

The competing protest calls have added to concerns about further tension on and around the campus. The university administration and police now face the challenge of preventing further clashes and restoring normalcy.

Jadavpur University has previously witnessed political and ideological tensions involving student organisations. The latest confrontation has once again brought attention to student politics, campus security and allegations involving outsiders.

At present, both sides continue to accuse each other of provoking the violence. Further investigation is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the confrontation, identify those involved and determine the reasons behind the reported incidents of fire.