ABVP’s Vigilante Violence Against Azim Premji University

May 15, 2026

Summary for Press

APU fails to hold ABVP mob accountable for violence in February; Instead targets its own students!

Fact-finding finds that APU has failed to protect its own students’ right to a safe campus for learning, dialogue and critical thinking 

 

A fact-finding report was released in Bangalore on 15th May, 2026 in Press Club, Bangalore, that found that the response of the Azim Premji University to the ABVP mob violence has violated its own promise of upholding Constitutional values and promoting critical reflection among students. In the press conference, the speakers were Suvrat Raju, scientist and academic, Arvind Narrain, President, PUCL-Karnataka, Madhu Bhushan, women’s rights activist of Naaveddu Nilladidre, Madhulika T. of AILAJ-Karnataka, Mohan Rao of Bahutva Karnataka and student representatives from Collective and Students for People’s Democracy (SfPD). 

 

On 24th February, 2026, a mob of around 20 individuals from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad barged into the APU campus, vandalised property and assaulted and harassed students. They claimed to be protesting against a Reading Circle scheduled to take place that evening, organised by a student-body, SPARK-APU, on the Kunan-Poshpora atrocities and gang-rape by the Indian Army. After the police detained the members of the mob, an FIR was registered based on a complaint by the APU Head of Security against the ABVP members (Cr. No: 0051/2026). Shockingly, the Registrar filed a complaint soon after, and on the same night, an FIR was registered against SPARK-APU (Cr. No.: 0052/2026). In the weeks that followed, a Special Disciplinary Committee was constituted, and called on eight students and a few faculty members to attend hearings. On 8th May, 2026, one of the eight students was informed saying that she was suspended for two years. 

 

Soon after the incident, members of civil society organisations across Karnataka issued statements of solidarity with APU students, and condemned the violence by ABVP. A team of activists from different civil society organisations visited the campus in March to express solidarity with the students, gather testimonies about the incident and the response of the University administration. The team also tried to speak to the University administration, but received no response. However, the team did speak to the Inspector, Sarjapura Police Station. The report is a culmination of these testimonies and several conversations with students and faculty members over the last two months, to follow up on updates from the campus. The

 

The report documents the timeline of incidents, based on testimonies of students, faculty members and the police, and their testimonies regarding the environment within the University campus since the incident of violence. 

 

The report concludes with the findings that: 

  • Despite having prior knowledge that an attack may take place, the University administration failed to take preventive measures. In fact, they went so far as to tell the police that they did not know about the existence of the SPARK group, or their event. 
  • The police shared with the fact-finding team that they were too understaffed, to be able to take timely and adequate measures to de-escalate the violence by the vigilante group. 
  • The University has failed to make a single statement to the public, condemning the violent attack by the ABVP. They have also failed to pressure authorities to avoid delay in the investigation, and ensure that strict action be taken against the vigilante mob. 
  • There is a unanimous opinion among students and faculty members that the FIR against SPARK-APU was a disproportionate response on the part of the University administration. 
  • The constitution of the Special Disciplinary Committee took place in an opaque manner, and only contributed to the increase in fear and uncertainty among students and faculty. 
  • Students and faculty members both strongly believe that it is the responsibility of the University administration to ensure not just physical safety within the campus, but to maintain an environment that can foster critical learning and space for dialogue on all subjects. Increasing deployment of security and introducing practices of surveillance do not guarantee safety; they instill fear. 
  • The ABVP mob’s attack, their vandalism of campus property, assault against students and their demand for the ban of SPARK, is highly condemnable. Such vigilante action, where they took the law into their own hands must be met with strong action under the BNS. The actions of the ABVP clearly amount to vigilantism. 
  • The attack by the ABVP mob took place in a context in which educational institutions across the country have been witnessing similar attempts at curbing students’ expression. There have been other such attacks at the Dr. Hari Singh Gour University (Sagar, Madhya Pradesh), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, Jadavpur University, University of Hyderabad among others. 
  • The ABVP attack on students in Azim Premji University must thus be understood as a part of a calculated strategy to intimidate the spirit of inquiry into silence. The strategy involves the use of violence by groups such as the ABVP acting as vigilante enforcers of a morality at odds with the Constitution. When mobs are emboldened and speech is silenced, the culture of a rich and vibrant associative democracy at the heart of which are universities erodes. The very reason for the existence of a university is to promote the spirit of  critical inquiry. Such a spirit of thinking is often triggered by classroom discussions which motivate students to grapple further with our contemporary reality through reading circles. As such reading circles are a tribute to the university having fulfilled its core purpose, namely that of initiating thought.

 

The fact-finding team identifies the following measures to be of absolute importance:

  • The University must immediately withdraw all charges against SPARK-APU. 
  • With immediate effect, the University must revoke the suspension of the student. 
  • The University must address the concerns of all students by taking measures to engage with the student body, and remove the restrictions on students’ activities which aim at promoting critical thinking. 
  • Without further delay, the police must issue the report of the investigation and close the case against SPARK-APU. The police must also ensure a fair and swift investigation into the incident and action is accordingly taken against the ABVP vigilante mob. 

 

The disproportionate disciplinary actions against students shows that Azim Premji University has detracted from its own founding values. It is crucial for the institution to revive its culture of academic freedom and vision of holistic education while restoring the students’ and broader public’s faith in its administration. The report was released by People’s Union for Civil Liberties – Karnataka (PUCL-Karnataka), Bahutva Karnataka, Naaveddu Nilladidre, All India Students’ Federation (AISF), Collective, All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice – Karnataka (AILAJ-Karnataka) and All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE).