Tension in Kolkata’s Jadavpur University after ABVP-SFI clashes; V-C hints at police outpost

Kolkata, Aug 20 (IANS) Tension prevailed at Jadavpur University in Kolkata following clashes between two rival student groups, prompting Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya to hint at the possibility of setting up a permanent police outpost on the campus to maintain law and order.

The supporters of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed at Jadavpur University in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

Following the clashes, with the two student groups continuing to challenge each other escalating tension in the campus, the Vice-Chancellor said on Thursday that the university may consider setting up a permanent police outpost on the campus if such incidents continue.

Bhattacharya said that a permanent police outpost would not fit the culture of “open-minded thinking” for which Jadavpur University has been known for years.

However, he added that the proposal could be considered if repeated clashes among student groups disturb the campus atmosphere.

“A university campus cannot be beyond the law and order of the country. So whatever laws are in the legal system of the country will be applicable here as well. I will try to maintain security within the campus. I am familiar with this ecosystem here. We believe in open-minded thinking. That will remain. A permanent police outpost does not suit the culture of Jadavpur University. But if such incidents happen again and again, we will have to think of that,” Bhattacharya said.

An FIR was registered against 11 people under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Jadavpur Police Station.

All 11 people named in the FIR are associated with the SFI or other Left-wing student groups.

On Thursday morning, SFI supporters began a protest march towards the Jadavpur University campus from the Jadavpur 8 Bus Stand in Kolkata.

A large police contingent stopped the march at the outset.

Besides personnel from the Kolkata Police, a sizeable number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel were deployed to prevent the protesters from reaching the university campus.

Meanwhile, a counter-rally by the ABVP began from Golpark Crossing, also in south Kolkata.

The ABVP procession is also expected to be stopped before it reaches the university’s main gate, with police likely to halt it near Jadavpur Police Station.

The primary objective of the police deployment is to prevent the two rival groups from coming face to face and avoid further clashes.

The SFI has warned that it will not accept any move by the ABVP to proceed towards the university campus from the direction of Jadavpur Police Station.

–IANS

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