Azim Premji University Suspends Student for Two Years Following ABVP Campus Violence

Azim Premji University (APU) in Bengaluru has suspended one student for two years and issued written warnings to two others following violent incidents on campus on February 24, 2026. The disciplinary action stems from an inquiry into events where members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) forcibly entered the premises and vandalized property while protesting a student-led discussion on Kashmir. The university cited the suspended student's persistent defiance of institutional processes, misrepresentation of facts, and failure to de-escalate the situation as grounds for the penalty. This decision has triggered significant backlash, with over 40 students protesting outside the Registrar’s office and demanding the suspension's revocation. The Student Council criticized the punishment as disproportionate and arbitrary, arguing that the violence was initiated by external actors rather than the students. They also highlighted a lack of transparency in the disciplinary process. Concurrently, students involved in a related reading circle face legal challenges, having been charged under non-bailable offenses. The incident underscores growing tensions regarding free speech and administrative accountability within Indian higher education institutions.