On May 2, 2018, student groups from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) reportedly clashed violently during a protest over a portrait display on campus. At least 41 people, including students and police officers, were reportedly injured.
Student activists from Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), right-wing, religious Hindu groups, reportedly approached the campus to demand the removal of a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, from the school’s students union. The HYV and ABVP activists reportedly raised anti-Jinnah and pro-India slogans, burned a picture of Jinnah in effigy, and attempted to enter campus. As they attempted to do so, a group of AMU students armed with sticks reportedly confronted them. Shortly thereafter, police dispersed the protesters.
Later that day, AMU students reportedly numbering near 1,000 gathered near the university gate and attempted to march towards the local police station to demand registration of criminal cases against the right-wing activists. Police reportedly used tear gas and a coordinated baton tactic known as a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. At least 28 students and 13 police officers were injured in the confrontation.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about violence and threats to retaliate against or prevent student expression on and off campus. Student activists and members of the public have an obligation to respect academic freedom, university autonomy, and the right to free expression on campus. Likewise, state authorities have an obligation to ensure the security of academic communities, to prevent future attacks, to hold perpetrators of violent attacks accountable, and to refrain from interfering with the nonviolent exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, such incidents have a chilling effect on academic freedom and undermine democratic society generally.
Sources:
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/lucknow/hindu-outfits-clashed-with-students-of-aligarh-muslim-university.html
https://www.news18.com/news/india/abvp-hindu-yuva-vahini-burn-jinnah-effigy-at-amu-police-lathicharge-students-1736403.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/police-resort-to-lathi-charge-to-disperse-protesting-amu-students/articleshow/64005590.cms
AMU Jinnah portrait row: Police, students clash; over two dozen injured
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/may/03/jinnah-portrait-amu-on-boil-as-right-wingers-students-clash-1809539.html
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/eerie-silence-descends-on-amu-campus-heavy-police-deployment/articleshow/64014880.cms
Aligarh: 28 Aligarh Muslim University(AMU) students & 13 cops injured in clash which ensued when students were marching to police station after Hindu groups protested outside University campus y'day. Students allege they were targeted by police, demand ban on Hindu groups (02.05) pic.twitter.com/4wVoAyruRW
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 2, 2018
https://thewire.in/education/for-jinnah-portrait-hanging-since-1938-hindutva-activists-attack-amu-students