Chaos at Azim Premji University: Police book Spark Reading Circle after ABVP protests Kashmir 'talk' on APU campus
Times of India
by RAJIV KALKODFebruary 25, 2026
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Chaos erupted at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru after ABVP, an RSS-affiliated student group, barged into the campus to protest a scheduled discussion on Kashmir. The event, organized by Spark Reading Circle—a student initiative linked to the All India Students Association (AISA) and CPI (M-L)—focused on highlighting historical atrocities in Kashmir, including the 1991 Kunan-Poshpora mass rapes. ABVP members disrupted the program, leading to clashes with security personnel and vandalism. Police arrested 25 activists for trespassing and damaging property, while two platoons of the State Reserve Police Force were deployed as a precaution.
The university registrar accused Spark Reading Circle of hosting the event without authorization and spreading defamatory content about the institution. In his complaint, he cited social media posts by Spark Reading Circle that detailed the violent incident in Kunan-Poshpora, where 35 women were gang-raped by Indian army troops. The registrar emphasized that the university had no prior knowledge of the event and strongly condemned the use of its campus for such discussions, calling them "communally hateful."
The police filed a case against Spark Reading Circle members under Section 299 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with outraging religious feelings, and the Information Technology Act. Meanwhile, a local court granted bail to the 25 arrested ABVP activists. This incident highlights tensions between student groups with differing political ideologies and raises questions about campus autonomy and freedom of expression in India.
The clash reflects broader debates over academic freedom versus institutional control and the role of student organizations in shaping public discourse. It also underscores ongoing conflicts over Kashmiri rights and historical violence, which remain contentious topics in Indian society. For readers interested in global affairs, this incident highlights how political ideologies can disrupt educational institutions and impact free speech on campuses worldwide.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/25/2026