Trouble broke out during the Diwali celebrations on the Delhi campus of Jamia Millia Islamia on Tuesday night as members of two student groups clashed, prompting police action on the campus.
The clash took place near Gate No. 7 during a rangoli event that was being organized by the ABVP, the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party. This had led to clashes when members of another group allegedly vandalized some Diwali decorations with rangolis and diyas, which caused sparks to fly.
देश की राजधानी दिल्ली स्थिति सेंट्रल यूनिवर्सिटी जामिया में दिवाली सेलिब्रेशन पर हंगामा बरपा!
आरोप है की जामिया में अल्पसंख्यक हिन्दू छात्रों के दिवाली उत्सव के खिलाफ इस्लामिक जेहादी तत्व विरोध प्रदर्शन पर उतर आए, हंगामा बरपा और दिया🪔 बुझाए। अल्लाह हूं अकबर का नारा लगाया गया। pic.twitter.com/f3DrMYM0cd— Madhurendra kumar मधुरेन्द्र कुमार (@Madhurendra13) October 22, 2024
The videos find their way onto social media, capturing the scuffle, which involves heated exchanges and slogans being chanted. Other viral posts claim that phrases such as “Allahu Akbar” and “Palestine Zindabad” were said during the fray.
Southeast Ravi Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police confirmed to the Indian Express, “Around 7:30-8 pm near Gate 7, the incident took place. A group of students from ABVP was making rangolis and putting up diyas to mark Diwali. Another group was displeased with the same and started breaking the decorations. There followed a scuffle and sloganeering from both sides.”
BIG BREAKING NEWS 🚨 Clash breaks out at Jamia Millia Islamia University during Diwali celebrations of Hindus.
Conflict began when some individuals allegedly tried to erase off Rangoli with their feet & extinguish Diyas.
Viral Video claims some students were raising… pic.twitter.com/7gxfs1nFwC
— Kaju Khajoor (@KajuKhajoor) October 23, 2024
The cause of the melee is still unknown, but for now, the police have put a watch stationed outside the campus to contain it from getting worse.