Bengaluru erupted in controversy at Azim Premji University when a social media post sparked outrage, leading to protests by ABVP activists and subsequent police action. The university registrar filed a complaint with Sarjapur police against the Instagram page ‘Spark Reading Circle’ for posting about a supposed event titled ‘Pre-Kashmir’ discussion on the Kunan-Poshpora incident, which never took place.
The post claimed the university was hosting this discussion, damaging the institution’s reputation and causing confusion among students and the public. University officials swiftly clarified that no such program was scheduled and that the Instagram account had no affiliation with them. Enraged ABVP workers stormed the campus, leading to chaos, property damage, and physical altercations.
Sarjapur police registered an FIR against the Instagram page, citing hurt sentiments and public unrest. While those who entered the campus unlawfully received bail on bailable charges, students who organized a peaceful assembly face non-bailable offenses under Section 299. This disparity has ignited debates on free speech versus institutional protocols.
ABVP argues that unauthorized events breach university rules and should be handled internally through disciplinary committees rather than police involvement. Students, however, decry the FIR as an assault on intellectual freedom, emphasizing the university’s ethos of encouraging critical discussions on history, politics, and social justice.
The incident underscores tensions between student activism, administrative control, and the right to dissent. As investigations continue, the university community calls for reconsideration of criminal charges against students, urging a return to dialogue over division. This case may set precedents for handling provocative social media in academic spaces.