ABVP goes on rampage, alleges elections rigged

ABVP activists went on a rampage on Delhi University campus after announcement of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) poll results on Saturday.

ABVP activists went on a rampage on Delhi University campus after announcement of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) poll results on Saturday.

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As soon as the poll officials announced the landslide victory of NSUI, which took three seats and a tie for joint secretary's post, ABVP supporters jumped over the walls of the counting centre. They alleged that some foul play was involved in the counting of votes, which has led to their defeat.

But even as the police personnel present at the counting centre tried to restrain the mob, the situation only turned more violent with ABVP activists breaking the police barricades and signboards. The police responded by lathicharge while ABVP activists pelted stones on them.

"We received a complaint that the students had climbed the wall of the counting centre and were trying to enter the building in order to seize the electronic voting machines. Even though we tried to restrain the students, the crowd of supporters created a riot-like situation," said Sindhu Pillai, deputy commissioner of police (north Delhi).

The protests spread soon after. A group of ABVP activists made their way to the Arts Faculty's Central Reference Library. The students who had been studying there alleged that the police roughed them up too.

"We were studying in the library when a crowd burst into the library. The police didn't even think twice before lathicharging us out of the library and refused to listen to us when we told them we were regular students," said Rouf Ahmad of department of English.

Those injured in lathicharge were rushed to Hindu Rao hospital. "Thirteen students were brought to the casualty. We referred two of them to AIIMS since they had suffered head injuries. The rest were discharged from casualty itself since they had suffered minor injuries and no fractures," said Dr. RB Mittal, medical superintendent, Hindu Rao hospital.

ABVP claimed that their presidential candidate - Ankit Dhanajay Choudhary and Joint secretary candidate - Vishu Basoya, were critically injured.

Basoya was taken to Maharaja Agrasen hospital with head injuries, while the AIIMS spokesperson said another activist - Ashish Pratap Singh - was being treated for stomach ache and nausea.