Bengal: Jadavpur University VC advised to rest after knee injury
Kolkata, Aug 25 (IANS) Doctors on Tuesday advised Jadavpur University Vice‑Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee to rest for three days after he fell on the varsity campus and hurt his knee.
The incident occurred while he was leaving the campus following an all‑stakeholders meeting. Students expect that he may return to the campus on Thursday or Friday, when they plan to request another meeting with the authorities.
Meanwhile, senior Kolkata Police officials visited the campus on Tuesday and collected CCTV footage related to the incidents of August 19 and 20.
Student leader Eshana said the Chancellor had been emailed for the Executive Council meeting and noted that the grievance cell was dissolved.
“Some demands were accepted, but half remain pending. In the middle of the meeting, the Vice‑Chancellor suddenly fell. Out of humanity, we allowed him to leave. But our demands are still pending. If our security is not ensured, we will launch a larger movement,” she said.
The authorities have dissolved the Students’ Grievance Redressal Cell, chaired by former acting Vice‑Chancellor Buddhadeb Sau. A controversy has arisen over who was seen in the CCTV footage during the commotion last Wednesday night. Students demanded that no one accused should be part of the cell.
Sau said he was relieved of the responsibility, claiming he had exposed corruption in entrance examinations.
“They wanted to remove me out of fear. I feel bad that someone gets punished through me, but I am happy I will not have to do this work anymore,” he said.
On August 19 and 20, clashes broke out between activists of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) outside the Jadavpur University campus in south Kolkata.
The first confrontation occurred at the 8B Bus Stand crossing between SFI activists and security personnel, while the second took place in front of the main gate between SFI and ABVP activists.
During the second clash, the engraved emblem of Jadavpur University, designed by painter Nandalal Bose, was damaged. It was repaired and reinstalled at gate number four on August 21.
The university authorities have formed an inquiry committee headed by former Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee to investigate the incidents of August 19 and 20. The first meeting will be held on August 27.
–IANS
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