Prayagraj: An incident of assault has been reported during a discussion organised at the Allahabad University campus regarding the new guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to address discrimination in higher education institutions.Students affiliated with the Disha Student Organisation (Disha) allege that during this discussion, held on February 3 (Tuesday), members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and other right-wing groups misbehaved with them, physically assaulted them and hurled casteist slurs at them.However, in an interview with The Wire Hindi, the ABVP, which is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), denied these allegations. The organisation claims that the conflict escalated after students linked to Disha raised objectionable slogans against upper castes during the discussion.A video of the incident has surfaced on social media, showing individuals physically attacking students. A vehicle with ‘Bajrang Dal’ written on it is also seen entering the campus.In this image, Samrat Rai is seen pulling Nidhi’s hair. Photo: Special Arrangement.Priyanshu, an alumnus of Allahabad University, told The Wire Hindi that Disha had arranged a discussion regarding the UGC Guidelines 2026 at the university’s Banyan Lawn.Priyanshu said, “The discussion was proceeding peacefully. Suddenly, 30-40 unruly elements arrived. At the same time, a car without a licence plate entered the campus through the university’s main gate, bearing the name ‘Bajrang Dal.’” She alleged that the students assembled for the discussion were then subjected to casteist insults and physically assaulted.She further claimed that the assailants misbehaved with female students, stating, “The girls were yanked by their hair and kicked and punched in the abdomen. All of this happened in the presence of the university administration, yet no one intervened.”Questioning the university administration, Priyanshu asked how a vehicle without a licence plate belonging to a particular organisation was allowed to enter the campus freely, while ordinary students are required to show their identity cards at the gate.‘The attackers were allowed to escape, while the injured students were interrogated’Another student alleged that the perpetrators were allowed to flee the scene, while the injured students were taken to the university office and interrogated.Nidhi Yadav, a student injured in the assault, alleged that individuals associated with right-wing groups had assaulted her and injured her private parts.“They pulled my hair and hit me. I have cuts on my nose, my glasses are broken. They hit me on my private parts,” she said.Nidhi surrounded by the attackers. Photo: Special Arrangement.Nidhi accused Bhavesh Dubey, a student from the Hindi department associated with the ABVP, of attacking students with an iron signboard.She also alleged that Bhavesh Dubey hurled casteist abuses at students linked to the Disha student organisation, saying, “We were subjected to abusive language about our mothers and sisters. We were called lowlifes. This incident is an example of why the new UGC guidelines were introduced.”Nidhi further said, “We are not safe anywhere – whether as women, or as members of a particular community, or simply as human beings. We have no dignity. We can’t even voice our concerns as women.”She clarified that the discussion was neither in support of nor against the UGC guidelines. “People were sitting and conversing peacefully. There were no slogans being raised, and anyone was welcome to participate,” she said.She also alleged that “ABVP students were planning on a WhatsApp group, saying, ‘Disha people are holding a discussion, let’s go and beat them up.’”ABVP-affiliated student denies allegationsBhavesh Dubey, a third-year student in the Hindi department at Allahabad University and a member of the ABVP, denied all allegations against himself and his organisation in a conversation with The Wire Hindi.He claimed that the Disha student organisation had invited outsiders to their programme and that slogans against upper castes and the country were being raised.Regarding the assault allegations, Bhavesh Dubey said, “The students from the Disha student organisation initiated the attack on my associates, prompting me to grab an iron signboard in self-defence.”In response to the allegation of using casteist language, he remarked, “Only a fool would use casteist language inside the campus during an altercation. I did not resort to such language.”Students Sanjay (L) and Nidhi, who were injured in the violence on Allahabad University campus on February 3. Photo: Special Arrangement.He accused Nidhi Yadav of having bitten a fellow ABVP member, Samrat Rai, causing him serious injury.Police complaint, two students suspendedAtul Narayan, the acting Chief Proctor of Allahabad University, told The Wire Hindi that complaints from both parties have been sent to the Colonelganj police station.He further stated that both Nidhi Yadav and Bhavesh Dubey have been suspended in connection with the violence.According to Atul Narayan, the Disha student organisation had not obtained prior approval from the university administration for this discussion. “Had permission been obtained, security arrangements would have been made,” he said, adding that appropriate action would be taken against those involved in the violence.However, the Disha organisation said it is common for students to engage in such discussions on the university campus. They maintained that it was a simple discussion and therefore did not require permission.Allegations of administrative silenceStudents have also alleged that the university administration failed to take prompt and effective action following the incident. Members of the Disha organisation have submitted a formal complaint to both the Vice-Chancellor and the district administration, raising serious concerns about the involvement of external elements, the use of casteist abuses, and campus security arrangements.Students participating in the discussion on UGC rules. Photo: Special Arrangement.The opposing party has also submitted a written complaint to the university administration.The complaint sent to the Colonelganj police station by the Disha organisation states, “The attackers physically assaulted the students, using derogatory terms like ‘Chamar, Pasi, low-caste.’ Female students were subjected to assault, including having their hair pulled and their private parts hit. They also faced life-threatening attacks with sticks, rods and signboards, and received death threats with the intention of intimidating them.”Students alleged that the police are refusing to register an FIR because the university administration has merely sent copies of the complaints to the police station, rather than a report of the violence that occurred that day.The Station House Officer (SHO) of Colonelganj police station told The Wire Hindi that he cannot register an FIR until the university sends a report of the violence.Why are the UGC guidelines being discussed?On January 13, the University Grants Commission (UGC) announced the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equality in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2026. These regulations mandate anti-discrimination committees and formal grievance redressal mechanisms in universities to address caste-based discrimination.The regulations were introduced following petitions filed by the mothers of Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi. Rohit Vemula died by suicide in 2016 at Hyderabad University, and Payal Tadvi took her own life in 2019 at a medical college in Mumbai, allegedly due to caste-based discrimination.The new regulations replaced the 2012 UGC regulations, which limited the definition of caste-based discrimination to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The 2026 regulations have expanded this definition to include Other Backward Classes (OBC) as well. Some upper-caste groups have opposed the regulations, arguing that they could result in false complaints and harassment of individuals from upper castes.The Supreme Court has issued a stay on the new regulations, stating that “prima facie, its language is completely vague and there is a possibility of misuse of its provisions.” The apex court further clarified that the 2012 regulations will continue to remain in effect.This article was translated from the Hindi original, which first appeared on The Wire Hindi, by Naushin Rehman.