Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee was advised three days of rest by doctors on Tuesday, 25 August, after he fell and injured his knee while leaving the varsity campus in south Kolkata. The incident occurred immediately after an all-stakeholders meeting, adding a fresh complication to an already tense standoff between students and university authorities.

The Campus Meeting and VC's Injury

Bhattacharjee fell while departing the campus following the all-stakeholders meeting convened to address student grievances. Students indicated he may return by Thursday or Friday, when they plan to seek another round of discussions with the administration. Student leader Eshana confirmed that while some demands were accepted during the meeting, roughly half remain unresolved.

'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,' Eshana said.

Police Collect CCTV Footage from August 19-20 Clashes

Senior Kolkata Police officials visited the Jadavpur University campus on Tuesday and collected CCTV footage related to incidents on 19 and 20 August. A controversy has emerged over who appears in the footage from the commotion on the night of 20 August, with students demanding that no individual accused in connection with those events be allowed to serve on the university's grievance cell.

Those clashes saw confrontations 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). The first confrontation took place at the 8B Bus Stand crossing between SFI activists and security personnel; the second erupted in front of the university's main gate between SFI and ABVP activists.

University Emblem Damaged, Inquiry Committee Formed

During the second clash on 20 August, the engraved emblem of Jadavpur University — designed by renowned painter Nandalal Bose — was damaged. It was subsequently repaired and reinstalled at gate number four on 21 August. University authorities have constituted an inquiry committee headed by former Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee to investigate the August 19-20 incidents. The committee's first meeting is scheduled for 27 August.

Grievance Cell Dissolved Amid Controversy

The university authorities have dissolved the Students' Grievance Redressal Cell, which was chaired by former acting Vice-Chancellor Buddhadeb Sau. Sau claimed he was removed because he had exposed alleged 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,' Sau said.

Student leader Eshana also noted that the Chancellor had been emailed regarding an Executive Council meeting. With the inquiry committee set to convene on 27 August and students threatening a larger agitation if security concerns go unaddressed, the situation at Jadavpur University remains fluid.