123 Kolkata: Kolkata Police has filed an FIR against unknown individuals under stringent sections for allegedly putting up graffiti on ‘Azad Kashmir' and other "objectionable" posters on the walls of Jadavpur University. If convicted, the accused can face a maximum punishment of imprisonment for life.
An officer said a case was filed under sections 61 (2) pertaining to criminal conspiracy and 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity) of the BNS, based on a suo motu complaint.
Cops at Jadavpur PS initiated a case after coming across use of "divisive messages" like ‘Azad Kashmir', ‘Azad Manipur', ‘Deocha Pachami' and others in posters and slogans near gate 3 opposite Technology Building. "It is not just one ‘Azad Kashmir' slogan. Rather, multiple messages that can hurt the unity of the country have been perpetrated," said an officer. Cops said names of a list of students involved with Left organisations were collected and its office bearers will soon be summoned. A few JU staffers may be approached to record their statements.
On Tuesday, some students were summoned again in connection with the alleged arson at JU on March 1. According to sources, cops have sent summons again as several students did not respond to the previous summons.
But the protesting students, as well as members of JUTA, claimed that the poster was old and has no relation to the present round of protests. "This is nothing but a cowardly act to shift the focus of the movement. It is an attempt to undermine the protest," said a student from an ultra-Left student unit.