Calcutta HC Petition Claims Police Bias in JU Violence Probe
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Synopsis
A Calcutta High Court petition has been filed alleging a <b>one-sided investigation</b> by Kolkata Police regarding a violent incident at Jadavpur University, where two students were injured after being hit by the vehicle of Education Minister Bratya Basu. The petition claims all FIRs are against protesting students.
Key Takeaways
- Legal action initiated in Calcutta High Court
- Accusations of police bias in investigating student protests
- Two students injured by a Minister's vehicle
- Concerns over FIRs filed solely against students
- Peaceful continuation of Higher Secondary exams
Kolkata, March 3 (NationPress) A legal petition has been submitted to a single bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday, claiming that Kolkata Police have conducted a biased and one-sided investigation regarding the incident that occurred at Jadavpur University on March 1. During the event, two students from the university sustained injuries and were hospitalized after reportedly being struck by the vehicle of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu.
The petitioner contends that all seven FIRs lodged in this case are directed solely against the students who were protesting on campus that Saturday afternoon. Among these, two FIRs were initiated suo motu by police, while five others stemmed from complaints made by the Trinamool Congress-linked West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA).
Despite two students suffering injuries requiring hospitalization, the petitioners argue that the police did not take into account a single complaint from the students.
The petition has been accepted by the single judge bench headed by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, and it is anticipated that the hearing will take place on Tuesday.
The unrest erupted on Saturday when the Minister's vehicle was reportedly obstructed upon entering the campus, leading to a physical altercation. The students were advocating for prompt elections for the university’s student council.
Protesting students allege that while Basu opted to leave the campus amid the demonstrations, his vehicle intentionally struck two students involved in the protest, resulting in significant injuries that necessitated hospitalization. During the protest, the Minister also suffered minor injuries and felt unwell. He was subsequently taken to the state-operated S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital, from which he was later discharged.
At the same time, there have been no reports of violence or unrest stemming from the strike initiated by CPI(M)’s student wing, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), on Monday, in solidarity with the two students who were allegedly struck by the Minister’s vehicle.
The Uccha Madhyamik (Higher Secondary) examination organized by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education commenced on Monday and proceeded without incident, as the examination centers were exempt from the strike.
