Violence at Jadavpur University: Student Faces Non-Bailable Charges
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Synopsis
Indranuj Ray, a first-year student at Jadavpur University, is hospitalized for injuries from a vehicle incident involving West Bengal's Education Minister. The Kolkata Police have charged him with non-bailable offenses amidst ongoing protests by students demanding immediate elections to the university’s student council.
Key Takeaways
- Indranuj Ray injured after being struck by a vehicle.
- Charges filed against students include non-bailable offenses.
- Protests demanding student council elections escalated.
- Strike organized by SFI in response to the incident.
- Seven cases registered related to the campus disturbances.
Kolkata, March 3 (NationPress) Indranuj Ray, a first-year student at Jadavpur University, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Kolkata for injuries sustained after allegedly being struck by the vehicle of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu. The Kolkata Police have charged him under non-bailable sections.
In three distinct cases, all involving non-bailable charges, Ray and other protesting students from Jadavpur University are accused of physically confronting the Minister, unlawfully obstructing his vehicle, and attempting to seize his wristwatch, according to sources from the city police.
Additionally, Ray and other students face allegations of vandalism and arson on university property.
A total of seven cases have been filed concerning the disturbances that occurred on the university campus last Saturday, as confirmed by City Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma. "Of these cases, two were initiated by the police themselves. A total of 48 individuals have been implicated in the matter," Verma stated to the media.
In the meantime, members of the CPI(M)’s student faction, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), organized a statewide strike across all colleges and universities on Monday to protest against the Minister’s vehicle reportedly striking students, which they claim was intentional.
However, examination centers for the Uccha Madhyamik (Higher Secondary) exams, administered by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, were excluded from the strike. At the time of reporting, no significant chaos or disturbances had been reported as a result of the strike.
The uproar began on Saturday when the Minister's car was allegedly halted after entering the campus, leading to a confrontation. The students were advocating for prompt elections to the university’s student council.
The protesting students asserted that while Basu attempted to exit the campus amid their demonstrations, his vehicle deliberately struck two of the protesting students, causing them serious injuries that necessitated hospitalization.
On Saturday, during the protests, the Minister sustained minor injuries and fell ill. He was subsequently taken to the S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital and was later discharged.
