Masked activists from rival student groups in JNU clashed over alleged casteist remarks and UGC regulations, sparking campus-wide panic.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, February 23, 2026: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) witnessed a night of chaos late Monday as a protest march spiraled into violent clashes between rival student groups, leaving several students injured and sparking outrage across campus and social media.
The confrontation erupted during an ‘Equality March’ organized by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU). The union had called for the protest to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit over allegedly casteist remarks made during a podcast on February 16. The JNUSU also raised objections to her comments on University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, Dalit students, and affirmative action. In addition, the students sought the revocation of rustication orders issued against four student leaders accused of vandalising university property during previous protests.
VIDEO | Delhi: JNU’s ABVP leader Praveen Kumar Piyush says, “Last night, Left organisations called for a march from Sabarmati Tea Point to the residence of JNU Vice Chancellor. After their march, they entered the common rooms of the school area, wearing masks, and assaulted the… https://t.co/KLBu6obANy pic.twitter.com/goxD0M75RO
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 23, 2026
Protesters alleged that university authorities failed to engage with the march and instead allowed members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP-affiliated student organization, to confront them. According to JNUSU members, masked ABVP activists attacked peaceful demonstrators with sticks and stones, leading to injuries and widespread panic.
The ABVP, however, rejected these claims, accusing Left-backed student organizations, including the All India Students’ Association (AISA), of instigating violence and spreading misinformation. In a post on X, the ABVP claimed that “common students were surrounded and attacked by Left-affiliated groups while peacefully studying in campus reading areas. Some were forced to lock themselves inside for safety. This is not student politics, this is orchestrated violence.”
ABVP Secretary at JNU, Pravin Kumar Piyush, added that a Left-wing group had organized a late-night march from Sabarmati T-Point to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. “After the march, around 400–500 masked individuals entered the school area carrying hockey sticks, rods, batons, knives, and stones. They forced their way into the school, where students were studying in reading rooms, and allegedly pushed them out,” he said.
In another post, the ABVP alleged that a student, Prateek Bhardwaj, a Biotechnology student from the School of Biotechnology, was ambushed inside the School of Social Sciences. “He was first blinded with fire extinguisher powder and then mercilessly beaten, leaving him critically injured,” the statement said.
The clashes, which reportedly involved hundreds of students, left campus tense late into the night. Vaibhav Meena, JNUSU Joint Secretary, described the situation as a “night of terror,” with masked individuals moving through campus and creating fear among students.
The incident comes amid broader campus tensions surrounding the implementation of new UGC guidelines introduced on January 13, aimed at curbing caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions. The regulations require universities to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints, particularly from SC, ST, and OBC students. While intended to protect marginalized students, the guidelines have faced criticism from some general category students, who claim the framework could result in reverse discrimination.
The escalating clashes at JNU have drawn strong reactions online, with the ABVP launching a social media campaign using the hashtag #LeftAttacksJNUAgain, alleging police inaction as the campus turned into a “battlefield.” Student groups, on the other hand, are calling for immediate arrests and accountability from the administration for failing to prevent the violence.
As the university community reels from Monday night’s events, authorities face increasing pressure to restore order and address the root causes of the unrest, balancing student safety with freedom of expression and protest on campus.
