Pune: BJYM Workers Allegedly Vandalise Bangladesh-Themed Stall At MIT-WPU Cultural Festival
Pune: BJYM Workers Allegedly Vandalise Bangladesh-Themed Stall At MIT-WPU Cultural Festival
Pune, February 12, 2026: Members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) allegedly vandalised a Bangladesh-themed food stall during a cultural programme at a private university in Pune, sparking controversy. The incident also involved the burning of Bangladesh’s national flag.
The episode occurred on Tuesday evening at the MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) campus in Kothrud. The university was hosting its annual World Cultural Festival (WCF), where students from various countries had set up food stalls representing their cultures. According to a senior police officer, the disturbance took place after the event had concluded.
MIT-WPU registrar Dr. Pokale said preliminary information indicated that unauthorised individuals had entered the campus premises. “The university is in the process of filing a police complaint,” he stated. He added that the World Cultural Festival is organised each year to celebrate cultural diversity and provide a platform for international students. “We remain committed to ensuring a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for everyone on campus,” he said.
Senior Inspector Sandip Deshmane of Kothrud Police Station confirmed that a complaint had been received regarding the vandalism. “An FIR has not yet been registered as the investigation is ongoing. We are collecting witness statements, reviewing video footage and coordinating with college authorities to determine how the group entered the campus and what transpired,” he said.
A BJYM office-bearer acknowledged that members of the organisation were involved. Pune city BJYM president Dushyant Mohol claimed the confrontation began over the display of the Bangladesh national flag at the stall. He alleged that some local students objected to the flag, citing Bangladesh’s perceived anti-India stance. According to him, tensions escalated when the students managing the stall declined to remove the flag and displayed another one instead, leading BJYM members to damage the stall and burn the flag.
A video circulating on social media shows a group of men damaging the stall, burning the flag and shouting slogans.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, BJYM activists allegedly painted the Bangladesh flag on a road in the city and raised slogans against the neighbouring country, police officials said.
