Kolkata, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Tension prevailed at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University on Thursday following clashes between supporters of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), prompting Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya to say the university may consider a permanent police outpost if such incidents recur.
The clashes between the two rival student groups took place in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. The continuing confrontation between the groups has heightened concerns over law and order on the campus.
Bhattacharya said a permanent police outpost was not consistent with Jadavpur University’s tradition of “open-minded thinking”. However, he made it clear that the university could reconsider the issue if repeated clashes continued to disrupt the campus environment.
“A university campus cannot be beyond the law and order of the country. So whatever laws are in the legal system of the country will be applicable here as well,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He said he would work to maintain security on the campus while preserving its academic culture. “A permanent police outpost does not suit the culture of Jadavpur University. But if such incidents happen again and again, we will have to think of that,” he added.
An FIR has been registered at Jadavpur Police Station against 11 people under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the report, all 11 named individuals are associated with the SFI or other Left-wing student organisations.
The situation remained tense on Thursday as rival groups organised separate marches in south Kolkata. SFI supporters began a protest march from the Jadavpur 8 Bus Stand towards the university, but a large police contingent stopped them at the outset.
Kolkata Police personnel, along with a sizeable deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), were positioned to prevent the protesters from reaching the campus.
Meanwhile, the ABVP organised a counter-rally from Golpark Crossing. Police were expected to stop the procession before it reached the university’s main gate, with the likely stopping point near Jadavpur Police Station.
The deployment was aimed primarily at preventing the rival groups from coming face to face and averting further clashes.
The SFI has warned that it would oppose any attempt by the ABVP to approach the university campus from the Jadavpur Police Station side.
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