West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu heckled; student, professors injured in clashes on Jadavpur University campus
Times of India | 2 March 2025
West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, centre, speaks with Students' Federation of India (SFI) members at Jadavpur University campus, in Kolkata. (PTI photo) KOLKATA: Jadavpur University students primarily belonging to ultra-Left organisations heckled education minister Bratya Basu, ransacked his meeting venue, damaged his car, thrashed several university professors, and then set fire to a university employees' office on Saturday afternoon while demanding that the minister declare student union election dates at the spot.
Basu, who tried to reason with the students that he could not declare the dates then and there without consulting administration seniors, was later taken to the trauma care centre at SSKM Hospital and discharged after a check-up. A student, who fell in front of the minister's car and suffered serious injures, was admitted to KPC Hospital.
Former JU professor Om Prakash Mishra, also a former VC, was attacked, harassed and manhandled by a group of students.
Later in the evening, the agitating students gheraod Jadavpur police station, Left student unions and Trinamool Congress members took out marches outside the university, and SFI called a student strike on Monday.
The two-hour-plus fracas occurred in several rounds and at several points on the campus. Basu was at the university to address a meeting of the Trinamool Congress-aligned West Bengal College & University Professors' Association.
Told VC not to call cops to JU: Bratya
A scuffle broke out as protesting students entered OAT, where Basu was delivering his speech. JU professors and WBCUPA members Monojit Mandal and Samir Chatterjee were injured. WBCUPA's Pradipta Chatterjee was injured trying to stop the students at the gate.
Basu later said he was ready to speak to four student representatives. "They could have presented their demands formally or had a discussion, but they chose disruption. Some students are attempting to obstruct WBCUPA's campus activities. Is this campus democracy?" he said. He said he had instructed interim VC Bhaskar Gupta "not to call police to the campus".
Basu's way was blocked as he tried to leave the venue. Protesting students ransacked his car but VC Gupta came to his rescue. A scuffle again erupted as WBCUPA members cordoned off the area for Basu's exit. But the students tried to stop his car and in the process, a student fell in front of the car and was injured.
Left students' unions and WBCUPA traded blames. "We wanted to know when the students' election would be held but TMC supporters attacked us," said PG I's Soumyodip Haldar. A WBCUPA member later lodged a complaint at Jadavpur police station.
Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "We are not a revengeful party, but this can't be tolerated. A minister's car was ransacked with him inside. Any unfortunate incident could have happened. Teachers and our party members showed extreme patience but it isn't our weakness. Those involved will be identified."
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