Pune: NSUI, ABVP clash at COEP; Congress alleges intimidation of girls

A dispute broke out at COEP in Pune between NSUI and ABVP. The Congress accused ABVP of threatening female students in their hostel, claiming a girl was forced to apologize on camera, ahead of Rahul Gandhi's student event in the city.

A row erupted in Pune following heightened tensions between NSUI and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) Technological University as Congress spokesperson Atul Londhen on Saturday accused ABVP workers of intimidating female students inside hostels. This comes as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' in Pune today.

Congress Alleges Coercion of Female Student

Speaking to ANI, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that a female student was cornered and forced to apologise on camera under intense duress. "A girl was intimidated and coerced into giving a statement. She was forced to apologise; the girl is traumatised now. First of all, who went to the hostel, locked the girls in their rooms, and threatened a student? It was the ABVP people. She called NSUI people; that is how the whole incident started... Students from all over the country study in Pune... Female students will come, present their issues, and Rahul Gandhi will listen to them too," he said. Londhe added that public trust is shifting toward the Congress, stating, "Today, people have come to accept that if there is anyone in this country who is honest, capable of bringing about positive reforms and good governance, and able to improve education, it is Rahul Gandhi."

NSUI Hits Back, Claims Distress Call from Students

Meanwhile, NSUI State President Sagar Salunke asserted that NSUI reached the spot only after receiving distress calls from students. Salunke claimed the venue's CCTV cameras were turned off by ABVP workers before NSUI's arrival. "It is an absolute lie... They should check the CCTV footage; the cameras had been turned off because ABVP goons had arrived there before us and threatened people. I received a call from the hostel stating that ABVP members were threatening orphaned students. The interesting thing is that COEP (College of Engineering Pune Technological University) students are like lions; the boys aggressively threw those two individuals out of the hostel. When I arrived, a crowd of 200-300 students was chasing them away, shouting, 'Get out of here!' That was when I stepped in to intervene. The students told me, 'Dada, they are threatening the girls inside as well; please look into this.' So, we went inside... All the girls were terrified," he said.

When asked about Pune Police registering a case against alleged NSUI and Youth Congress workers in connection with an alleged assault on an ABVP student, he stayed defiant, calling it a mark of "honour". "The FIR filed against us is like a badge of honor; we are fighting for students, and this will only strengthen our resolve. We will fight with five times the strength; there is no cause for concern. However, Chandrakant Patil will have to withdraw all those 'Manuvadi' decisions--such as the exploitative hike in student fees. The Vice-Chancellor threatened students--including orphans--and demanded they record videos by 8 PM stating that they were happy with the college administration and that the administration was not at fault. When the students refused to do so, the Vice-Chancellor sent these ABVP goons," he said.

Case Registered Following Complaint

The case was registered at Shivajinagar Police Station on the complaint of 21-year-old student Malhar Nilesh Patil. According to the complaint, a video statement of a student was allegedly taken under pressure at the COEP hostel on Friday. Patil, along with ABVP members, reportedly went to the hostel to inquire about and discuss the matter. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)