Minister records statement, JU to form panel to probe March 1 campus clash
Times of India | 12 March 2025
1234 Kolkata: The Kolkata Police on Tuesday said they met education minister Bratya Basu and recorded his statement on the March 1 fracas on the Jadavpur University campus. JU's administrative meeting, which ended late on Monday night, decided to form an inquiry panel to probe various incidents that took place on the campus on March 1 and subsequent events related to it.
The developments come ahead of the high court taking up the JU hearing at 4 pm on Wednesday. Police remained tight-lipped. Sources only said they spoke to Basu and recorded his statement. Sources said they met him in the evening. Basu himself did not speak on the issue. The cops had earlier spoken to Basu's driver Rehan Molla and JU professor Om Prakash Mishra.
The action by JU appeared to be among the several balancing acts by the administration as part of confidence-building measures among students and to restore normalcy on the campus. A source said, "During the meeting on Monday, members of the administrative committee felt the need for an probe into the various incidents that took place on March 1. It was decided that the VC will be requested to form the probe panel."
The meeting, which was attended by the pro-VC, joint registrar, dean of students, other officials, heads of depts, and directors of schools, listened to the students' demands and tried to accommodate them as much as possible, though there are certain dilemmas within the administration. At the meeting, students urged the authorities to see that they are not harassed by cops and also raised concern about an ex-student who was arrested for the vandalism of quarter number 10. "The university authorities found that the alleged vandalism of quarter 10 did not take place. It was resolved that the university will give it in writing to the cops so that students are not harassed," said an official.
Student representatives from various organisations questioned the authorities as to how police entered the campus on Monday and were seen protecting IR dept senior professor Om Prakash Mishra. "It was resolved that JU will stick to its convention and cops will need to inform or authorities before visiting the campus," said a professor.
A senior official shared that the authorities also resolved that the medical expenses of the injured students will be taken care of and that they will also help students in legal matters. "The authorities have also decided to appeal to the state again to conduct students' union polls and request the interim VC to conduct an emergency EC meeting," said a professor.
JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Ray said, "We appealed to the students not to boycott classes and exams. T"hey returned to classes. The discussion between the administration and the students on Monday was a much-needed act to restore normalcy on the campus." Film studies dept student Anushna Das said, "We also want academic activities to be restored and during Monday's meeting, we flagged concerns. The authorities are taking steps to ensure our demands are fulfilled."
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