Assistant Proctor Allegedly Assaulted During Student Group Clash at Lucknow University
In a disturbing incident at Lucknow University (LU), an assistant proctor was allegedly manhandled on Saturday while attempting to mediate a volatile face-off between two rival student factions. The confrontation erupted outside the social works department, casting a shadow over the campus atmosphere.
Protest Over Alleged Administrative Bias Sparks Confrontation
The clash involved members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and a joint forum comprising the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha (SCS). The NSUI-SCS alliance was staging a protest, accusing the LU administration of blatant bias in granting permissions for campus events.
Protesting students voiced their grievances, stating that while ABVP is routinely allowed to organize academic discussions and programs, similar permissions are consistently denied to NSUI and SCS. They highlighted a recent instance where NSUI was barred from hosting a discussion featuring national-level leaders, whereas ABVP was permitted to hold an event in collaboration with Krishna Devi Girl's Degree College.
Heated Exchange Escalates into Physical Tussle
The situation intensified when members of the university's proctorial board instructed the protesting students to disperse. This directive triggered a heated exchange, prompting ABVP students, who were participating in their sanctioned event, to exit the hall and confront the NSUI-SCS protesters.
What began as a verbal debate quickly descended into a physical tussle. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, an assistant proctor intervened. Unfortunately, during the ensuing melee, the official was allegedly manhandled by someone in the crowd. The chaos necessitated police intervention to ensure the safety of the assaulted proctor.
University Administration's Response
LU spokesperson Mukul Srivastava addressed the incident, stating, "The proctorial board engaged in dialogue and managed to control the situation peacefully." However, when questioned specifically about the alleged manhandling of the teacher, both Proctor Rakesh Dwivedi and the spokesperson declined to comment, leaving the matter unresolved.
This incident underscores the ongoing tensions and allegations of partiality within the university's administrative processes, raising serious concerns about campus safety and governance.
