ABVP seeks action against ACP for slapping student

ABVP State joint secretary Suvith Shetty (third from left) speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH The Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday threatened to launch an agitation if no action is taken against Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravish Naik for slapping a student during a protest by students in front of St. Agnes College here on Monday.Talking to reporters in Mangaluru on Wednesday, ABVP State joint secretary Suvith Shetty said Mr. Naik slapped the student Nikith, who was among the students taken into custody by police during the protest by students of St. Agnes College demanding postponement of examinations scheduled during Dasara.“The official slapped Nikith soon after he shouted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Is it wrong to say it? He is admitted to a hospital and has filed a complaint. There is a clear video clipping showing the official slapping the student. Action should be taken against the official for slapping Nikith,” Mr. Suvith said.ABVP Mangaluru district secretary Shashank Shetty said ABVP will wait till Wednesday evening. “If the official fails to apologise for his conduct, and if no disciplinary action is taken, then the ABVP will stage a protest in the city on Thursday,” Mr. Shashank said.Mr. Suvith said students of St. Agnes College approached ABVP on October 9 and accused the college of not agreeing to postpone the examinations scheduled on October 19 and 21. The college too refused to take a memorandum by ABVP office-bearers. The district administration also failed to address the issue, and later students staged a protest on Monday morning.On October 12, four ABVP office-bearers came to the college to give a memorandum when students were protesting. Then the police took away the office-bearers and a few other students in their vehicle. It was at that moment that the ACP allegedly slapped Nikith. Mr. Suvith maintained that no profanity was directed toward the official to prompt the latter’s action. Police personnel seen in front of St. Agnes College where students carried out protest demanding postponement of exams scheduled during Dasara | Photo Credit: File Photo Seeing the police taking away ABVP activists and other students, a group of college girls, who were protesting, blocked the movement of a police vehicle. It was wrong on the part of policemen to push aside the girls, Mr. Suvith said.Brushing aside allegations that ABVP targeted St. Agnes College, a minority institution, he said Alva’s College in Moodbidri and Canara College in Mangaluru promptly postponed the examinations scheduled on October 19 and 21, while St. Agnes did it only after protests by students. “We supported the genuine demand of students. It’s the stubbornness of St. Agnes College to address the demand that resulted in the protest,” Mr. Suvith said.Meanwhile, NSUI Dakshina Kannada District President Suhan Alva, at a press conference in the city on Tuesday, condemned the ABVP for interfering in the matter of St. Agnes College. Mr. Alva said that action should be taken against the ABVP, while no action should be taken against students of the college who protested for a genuine demand. Mr. Alva said it was wrong on the part of policemen to push aside college girls who blocked the police van on Monday.Defending the action by the police, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said there was a complaint by the college administration against the ABVP office-bearers. “The police took legal action to prevent a breach of peace,” Mr. Reddy said. Published - October 14, 2026 06:45 pm IST