Police summon AISA, ABVP memebers and Youtuber over scuffle in DU

The stir caused by a Youtube content creator’s alleged casteist slur during an event in Delhi University (DU) to support the UGC equity regulations continues to rage on. In light of the incidents that occurred two days ago, the Delhi police have summoned several people, including All India Students’ Association (AISA) members, the Youtuber and her associates.

Notices have been sent in connection with the two FIRs registered at the Maurice Nagar police station on Saturday night.

Speaking to The Hindu, a senior officer said two FIRs were registered under Sections 74 (criminal force against a woman), 115(2) (intentionally causing hurt), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 3 (5) (common intention) of the BNS. While one FIR was registered on a complaint by AISA DU secretary Anjali Sharma against Youtuber Ruchi Tiwari and members of ABVP, another FIR was registered on a complaint by Ms. Tiwari against AISA members.

On Friday, AISA organised a protest in Delhi University’s Arts Faculty in support of the UGC’s new rules against caste-based discrimination. The protest snowballed into a scuffle and a political row after Ms. Tiwari, alleged that she was assaulted and molested by protesters from the students’ group.

Chaos and threats

Following this Ms. Tiwari registered a complaint with the police alleging that the crowd molested her and gave rape threats. Meanwhile, AISA members alleged that “several miscreants tried to provoke, create chaos and incite violence”, while directing attention to Ms. Tiwari’s sloganeering and hurling of casteist statements. In one such viral video Ms. Tiwari can be seen saying derogatory statements.

The AISA further alleged that Ms. Tiwari attacked a journalist and hurled a punch at an AISA activist. Another viral video showed activists holding Ms. Tiwari while taking her to the police station.

The student organisation also alleged that Ms. Tiwari and her associates used gendered slurs to attack them in front of several police officers inside the Maurice Nagar Police station. Responding to that, a senior officer told The Hindu that matters between both the groups escalated and if they did not disengage both parties, AISA members could have been overpowered by Ms. Tiwari and her associates.

Currently, police have issued notices to the Delhi secretary of AISA Abhigyan and another AISA member Tanvi, and asked them to appear on Tuesday. The police have also issued summons to ABVP members and Ms. Tiwari. The police are scanning CCTV footage to understand the sequence of events.