A demonstration by a social organisation in support of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Regulations 2026 at Delhi University’s North Campus turned violent due to clashes between student bodies. Influencer Ruchi Tiwari, who was covering the events, alleged she was assaulted, while some student bodies claimed she incited violence. Police have filed cross FIRs and begun investigating the incident.
New Delhi: A demonstration organised by the All India Forum for Equity in support of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Regulations 2026 at Delhi University’s North Campus descended into violence amid clashes between student groups. The incident sparked controversy between the All India Students’ Association (AISA), which backed the event, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Influencer Ruchi Tiwari, covering the protest, alleged she was assaulted due to casteist differences. She shared videos showing scuffles among students and claimed she was manhandled, with her clothes pulled and her neck grabbed, nearly causing her to faint. “All this happened just because I am a Brahmin,” Tiwari said. She added that police at the scene did not intervene until female officers helped her escape.
AISA issued a statement calling for an end to Tiwari’s “casteist lies.” It stated that despite disruptions, the public meeting concluded peacefully, after which AISA activists filed a complaint against the journalist and her companions at Maurice Nagar police station. There, around 50 people reportedly hurled abuses, rape threats, and murder threats at the activists.
ABVP, in its statement, said Tiwari was manhandled while questioning AISA students during the protest at the Faculty of Arts campus. It described such elements as having historically violent tendencies, with many involved not being bona fide Delhi University students.
Cross FIRs have been filed at Maurice Nagar police station under BNS sections 74, 115(2), 126(2), and 3(5). A senior police officer noted, “Both parties filed complaints on Saturday. We are examining CCTV footage to ascertain the sequence of events.”
National Human Rights Commission member Priyank Kanoongo posted on X, “We are taking cognizance, and the miscreants will be dealt with as per the law.”
Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh posted on the university’s X page, “The incident is a matter of concern. Today I have talked to many student and teacher groups and have also talked to the police administration and asked them to ensure no such incident happens in future.”
