Sporadic clashes between individuals and rival student groups, heightened police deployment and disruption to classes and commuting marked the final days as campaigning for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections ended on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, an altercation between two Satyawati College students during election campaigning left both injured and two vehicles damaged near Wazirpur village in north-west Delhi.

According to the police, 19-year-olds Ansh and Bhavishya Chaudhary were taken to Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital for treatment.

“Two vehicles parked on the roadside were found with their windowpanes completely shattered and glass scattered across the road. They have been seized for examination,” a police officer said on Wednesday.

The police are scanning CCTV footage, questioning witnesses and trying to identify everyone present at the spot to establish their respective roles, the officer added.

‘No firing’

The Delhi police clarified that claims of firing during the clash were “completely false and factually incorrect” after receiving a PCR call reporting an assault and firing following the altercation.

“The nature of the injuries was being examined based on the medico-legal reports and preliminary inquiry,” a police statement read.

More clashes reported

The altercation comes amid reports from students of other instances of violence during campaigning.

Students reported a scuffle outside Motilal Nehru College on Tuesday evening between representatives of the RSS-affiliated student outfit Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Aam Aadmi Party’s student wing, the Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP). Students alleged that a large group of ABVP members entered the college premises and that the confrontation escalated despite policemen being present.

“Fifty to 60 members from the ABVP walked into the campus even though the rules do not allow more than five students to enter the campus. The students attacked each other and police did not even stop them while they were fighting in front of them,” a student said, preferring anonymity.

On Wednesday, another confrontation between the ABVP and workers of the Congress, Indian Youth Congress and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) outside Law Centre-I (LC-1) left at least one student associated with the ABVP injured, according to the outfit.

ABVP Delhi State secretary Sarthak Sharma alleged that the incident was an attempt to intimidate its workers and disrupt the campus environment and demanded action against those responsible.

‘Action will be taken’

Reacting to the clashes, DU Proctor Manoj Kumar Singh said, “Some clashes between groups have come to my notice. So far, it appears that the clashes have involved supporters from outside the college. However, if we receive a complaint, we will examine the CCTV footage and conduct an inquiry, and action will be taken if the culprits are found to be students.”

The police presence across the university intensified on the final day of campaigning, with detention vehicles, patrol vehicles and motorcycles deployed around campuses, while paramilitary personnel were brought in.

North Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Niharika Bhatt told The Hindu that the police were responsible for maintaining law and order both inside the university and on the streets adjoining the campuses.

“We have paramilitary forces and 150 personnel from the North zone deployed across the North Campus,” she said, adding that police were restricting the entry of outsiders into the campus as much as possible at the gates.

The police were also taking action against students for law-and-order violations based on complaints flagged by the Proctor, she said.

Navigating traffic

For students not involved in campaigning, however, the election period increasingly meant navigating busy roads, disrupted classes and large groups of campaigners moving through campuses.

“There are police everywhere, but it is not really helping. The police are just deployed and are patrolling. But they are not really intervening or stopping anyone when fights or scuffles happen between student groups,” said a first-year student, requesting anonymity.

Students said campaign-related movement and vehicles had also made commuting difficult. Some said they had started avoiding college because of the disruption.

“Classes are cut off or don’t happen and you can’t really study because of the elections. One time one person comes in and another time another for campaigning,” another student said.