Chaos gripped Azim Premji University in Bengaluru following a misleading social media post by ‘Spark Reading Circle’ promoting a fictitious ‘Pre-Kashmir’ session on Kunan-Poshpora. ABVP’s aggressive response included campus intrusion, leading to an FIR on the registrar’s complaint, while peaceful student protesters face harsher repercussions.
The post’s false narrative of an official event hurt sentiments and blemished the university’s standing, as per Registrar Rishikesh. The institution clarified its non-involvement, but protesters’ rampage resulted in property damage and injuries, earning them bailable offenses after release on bail.
Students who gathered peacefully are slapped with non-bailable charges, fueling accusations of disproportionate response. ABVP pushes for university-led disciplinary action over police intervention for protocol breaches. The community appeals to uphold the institution’s pillars of intellectual freedom and open forums on contentious issues.
This Bengaluru standoff amplifies national debates on campus speech limits, misinformation’s fallout, and protest policing. With probes ongoing, stakeholders urge dialogue to prevent future escalations, reinforcing academia as a bastion of thoughtful engagement amid polarization.