Published May 21, 2026 | 4:42 PM ⚊ Updated May 21, 2026 | 4:42 PM
Synopsis: Student organisations at the University of Hyderabad have accused members of the ABVP of assaulting and harassing a student who died by suicide earlier this week after he was accused of stealing laptops from a hostel. The student, Mayukh Kundu, allegedly left a note saying he was not involved in the theft, while student groups accused the university administration of failing to prevent “mob violence” on the campus.
Student organisations at the University of Hyderabad have accused members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) of assaulting and harassing a first-year MA Financial Economics student who died by suicide earlier this week after he was accused of stealing four laptops.
The student, identified as Mayukh Kundu, a native of West Bengal, jumped into a pond on the university campus on Sunday, 17 May. A letter purportedly written by Kundu before his death and later recovered by the police reportedly stated that he was not involved in the theft of the laptops.
A case has been registered and the investigation is ongoing.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, student organisations including ASA, AISA, BRSV, BSF, DSU, Fraternity, MSF, PDSU, SFI and TSF held “both the perpetrators of mob violence and the University administration accountable” for Kundu’s death.
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The ABVP rejected the allegations, saying attempts were being made to “falsely drag ABVP into the matter without any evidence”.
On Monday, the university administration issued a circular warning students against “intimidation, abusive behaviour, threats, obstruction of University officials/security personnel, consumption of intoxicants on campus and acts of indiscipline”.
It said the university had “zero tolerance towards any act of violence, threats, intimidation, abusive conduct, interference with official duties, destruction of property, discriminatory remarks, or any conduct prejudicial to the maintenance of order and discipline on campus”, and warned of disciplinary action.
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The student organisations alleged that on Sunday night “a group of students affiliated with ABVP, along with members of the present ABVP-led Students’ Union, assembled outside F Hostel under the pretext of taking action against Kundu”, who had been accused of stealing laptops.
The gathering then “quickly escalated into a mob that bypassed institutional procedures and assumed unlawful authority”, the statement said. The groups alleged that the mob engaged in intimidation, obstructed movement on campus and attempted to forcibly take custody of Kundu. They further alleged that he was “subjected to severe harassment, humiliation, and physical assault”, and that members of the mob “detained him in a hostel room and coerced him into confessing to the alleged theft”.
The organisations further alleged that an assistant security officer, who is Dalit, was “verbally abused by ABVP members of the mob using casteist slurs and mocked for linguistic reasons” while attempting to intervene and defuse the situation.
Calling the incident part of a broader pattern of campus violence, the organisations alleged that there had been “multiple recent instances” in which students were physically assaulted, academic activities, including a Theatre Department play, were disrupted, and intimidation tactics were used “by the same ABVP group” without accountability.
The groups also criticised the university administration’s response, saying its “delayed and vague communication failed to identify those responsible or take immediate corrective action”. They alleged that the administration’s “silence, inaction, and implicit support” had enabled “a culture of impunity and mob vigilantism on campus”.
The organisations also objected to alleged attempts to portray Kundu as “a drug addict or laptop thief”. According to the statement, “His teachers in the department stated that Mayukh was never found to be under the influence of drugs and that he was a bright student.”
The student groups demanded the “immediate constitution of an independent fact-finding committee”, “time-bound action against individuals responsible for the assault, coercion, and public humiliation”, and “accountability from the Office of the Proctor, Registrar, and Vice-Chancellor for systemic failure and inaction.”
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ABVP HCU rejected the allegations and accused “certain groups and sections of the media” of trying to “politicise the tragic demise” of the student. The organisation said attempts were being made to “falsely drag ABVP into the matter without any evidence”.
“Such irresponsible narratives are not only insensitive to the grieving family but are also aimed at maligning the image of ABVP for political motives,” the organisation said.
ABVP said it “categorically reject[s] all baseless allegations” against the organisation and added that “spreading fabricated stories and rumours during a moment of grief is highly condemnable and shows the desperate agenda of those trying to create unrest and hatred on the campus”.
The organisation also released a poster announcing a “Resistance Against Propaganda March for Truth & Justice” at Kargil Chowk on 21 May. The poster stated: “A student’s death should never be turned into political propaganda. Before facts were known, narratives were spread and accusations were made.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Sumit Jha)
