Calcutta High Court Orders FIR Against Police in JU Incident
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Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has instructed the Kolkata Police to register an FIR regarding a complaint from Jadavpur University student Indranuj Roy, who was allegedly struck by West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu's vehicle during campus unrest on March 1.
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court mandates FIR registration.
- Indranuj Roy involved in March 1 campus ruckus.
- Allegations against West Bengal Education Minister Basu.
- Court criticizes police investigation methods.
- Next hearing scheduled for March 12.
Kolkata, March 5 (NationPress) The Calcutta High Court has mandated the Kolkata Police to file an FIR following the complaint submitted by Indranuj Roy, a student from Jadavpur University (JU), who was involved in the tumultuous events on March 1 after being struck 'allegedly and deliberately' by the vehicle of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu.
The directive was issued by a single-judge bench led by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh in response to a petition alleging that the Kolkata Police had conducted a 'biased and one-sided investigation' concerning the March 1 chaos on the university grounds.
According to the petition, all seven FIRs that were lodged were either initiated on the police’s own accord against the students or based on complaints submitted by the Trinamool Congress-affiliated West Bengal College & University Professors’ Association (WBCUPA).
Justice Ghosh also instructed the state government to submit a comprehensive report regarding the incident. The subsequent hearing is scheduled for March 12, with both the state government and the petitioner required to file their respective affidavits on that date.
During the proceedings, Justice Ghosh commented on the apparent intelligence failure by the Special Branch of Kolkata Police, noting their lack of prior knowledge about the students' agitation while the Education Minister was present.
Making reference to recent student protests in Bangladesh, Justice Ghosh warned that if such intelligence oversights persist, the situation in West Bengal could escalate into a serious matter, akin to events in the neighboring country.
The chaos erupted on March 1 when the Minister's vehicle was reportedly halted upon entering the campus, leading to a confrontation. Students were demanding the prompt organization of elections for the university’s student council.
The protesting students accused Basu of intentionally hitting two of the demonstrators with his vehicle as he attempted to leave, resulting in severe injuries that required hospitalization.
During the turmoil, the Minister sustained minor injuries and felt unwell, prompting his transfer to S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital, from which he was later released.
