Delhi college student assaulted, his turban falls during clashes between 2 groups

A student's turban fell after he was assaulted by some students during clashes between two groups at Delhi University's Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College. A video of the incident went viral.

In Short

• Clashes erupt between two student groups in Delhi's Khalsa College
• Student is pulled, beaten and kicked, his turban falls
• Clashes occurred after college said it will contest own student polls

Two student groups clashed outside the principal's office at Delhi University's Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College on Sunday, resulting in a student's turban falling.

The students clashed following protests after college authorities had said they would not participate in the September 27 Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) polls following directions from the college's parent body, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

In a video that went viral, a group of students is seen standing outside the principal's office. Moments later, a student wearing a red turban is suddenly pulled, beaten and kicked by a few students.

During the assault, the student's turban falls off, following which some students intervened. One of them picks up the turban and gives it to the boy who wore it and he is whisked off by those who had intervened.

The remaining students continue to stand outside the principal's office and some of them are seen speaking to the authorities, who had opened the office door.

After some time, some students are seen running towards the gate of the college.

The student, whose turban fell during the fight, filed a complaint over the incident, following which the police registered an FIR.

The FIR was lodged under sections 299 (deliberate act to outrage religious feelings), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (joint criminal liability when two or more people work together to achieve a common goal) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

Earlier, the college principal, Gurmohinder Singh, wrote to the Delhi University administration, saying that the college would be conducting its own student elections. The decision, he said, was made following directions from the DSGMC.

The DSGMC governs four Delhi University colleges -- Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, all of which are affiliated with DUSU. However, Mata Sundri College for Women, another college under the DSGMC, is not affiliated with DUSU.

The Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College principal said the college's own elections would have office bearers nominated by the Staff Advisory Committee.

The decision triggered protests, with student members of both the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Congress' National Students' Union of India (NSUI) gathering at the college to voice their objections.

The ABVP also filed a petition in a Delhi court, challenging the disassociation of DSGMC colleges from DUSU.

(with inputs from PTI)