On May 4, 2023, a group of Kuki students from Delhi University reported that a group of Meitei students attacked them near the Delhi University campus while they were on their way back home from an event.

The Kuki students claimed that the Meitei group physically assaulted six male students, and threatened to rape three female students. One male student needed hospital treatment. The police initially refused to file a complaint, but later registered a first information report on May 5, 2023 after Kuki students staged a protest outside the police station. The police said they had detained several of the accused students and were trying to identify others.

This attack in Delhi comes after inter-communal clashes in the northeastern state of Manipur. The clashes relate to protests against the majority Meitei community’s inclusion in the scheduled tribes category. Violence erupted between the two groups after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent attacks by students on other students. State and university authorities must take reasonable measures to ensure safe living conditions for students, and students must refrain from violence. In addition to harm to the immediate victims, violent attacks on campus undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://aninews.in/news/national/general-news/manipur-students-clash-in-delhi-university-area-situation-under-control-say-police20230506143410/
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-spreads-to-delhi-students-attacked-vijay-nagar-kuki-meitei-video-2373521-2023-05-06
https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/05/10/amid-manipur-violence-fault-lines-in-delhi-and-an-oasis-of-friendship