Sanjay Kumar, A JNU alumnus and a professor at the Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, was allegedly attacked and doused with petrol on August 17, a day after the stateman’s death.
Patna: An assistant professor of Sociology at a college in Motihari, Bihar, was beaten and doused with petrol after criticizing Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a Facebook post.
Sanjay Kumar, A JNU alumnus and a professor at the Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, was allegedly attacked on August 17, a day after the stateman’s death.
It is also being said that Kumar had posted a comment in response to a post that was critical of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “He allegedly wrote: Fascivaad ka ek naye yug ki samaapti, Atal ji anant yatra pe nikle (It is the end of a new era of Fascism; Atalji embarks on his final journey)” a report said.
He was taken to AIIMS, Patna and has suffered several internal injuries and has been struggling to stay conscious.
“Kumar has said in his complaint filed at Town police station that he was in his room at Azad Nagar in Motihari when 20-25 people led by Rahul Pandey and Aman Bihari Vajpayee attacked him and tried to lynch him. He has also alleged that during the assault, the accused asked him why he had been speaking up against the Motihari university V-C and a few others. A purported video of the incident shows a person asking Kumar if he wanted to “become Kanhaiya Kumar”. He has also alleged that the accused tried to douse him with petrol. He also said that Dainik Bhaskar staff Sanjay Kumar Singh called him “terrorist” for his social media posts,” the Indian Express reported.
“Sanjay alleged that the students threatened to burn him alive if he did not stop speaking against MGCU VC and three teachers. Incidentally, a group of MGCU teachers have been on a dharna on the campus since May 29 to press for their 40-point demands,” reported Times of India. Sources said Sanjay was leading the agitation and the attack was a result of campus rivalry.
In his complaint to the police, the professor said that he was threatened and while beating him the attackers said, “Since you speak against the VC, Gyaneshwar Gautam and Sanjay Kumar Singh (Bureau chief, Dainik Bhaskar), you should resign immediately otherwise we will burn you alive.”
State RJD president Ramchandra Purbey accused the state government of “protecting” the accused. The incident was a typical instance of politically motivated mob violence which has been unleashed in the state,” he said.
“What is this going on, Mr CM? RSS goons in direct patronage of RSS-programmed VC assaulted and almost lynched a professor. They poured petrol to burn him alive,” said Tejashwi Yadav of RJD, leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, in a tweet. “Nitishji, why do not you open an RSS shakha in CM House and be its Sarsanghchalak?” he added. Yadav has earlier blamed the communal clashes across Bihar in March on RSS and accused Nitish Kumar of giving the organisation a free hand to expand across Bihar,” said The New Indian Express.
“The professor should not have made such comments. It was not right for others to physically attack him. A probe is on and action would be taken against the guilty. The Opposition leader is reading too much into this incident,” said ruling JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh.
“Among those booked are Rahul Kumar Pandey, Sunny Vajpayee, Aman Bihari Vajpayee, Purushottam Mishra, Ravikesh Mishra, Gyaneshwar Gautam, Sanjay Kumar Singh — local bureau chief of Dainik Bhaskar — Dr Pawnesh Kumar Singh, Diwakar Singh, Dinesh Vyas, Jitendra Giri and Rakesh Pande. They have been booked under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 147 & 148 rioting, 149 (unlawful assembly), 365 (kidnapping with intention of confinement) 448 (tresspass), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy),” Indian Express reported.
“It is a matter of grave concern that one of the JNU alumnus Dr Sanjay Kumar, Asstt Professor at Mahatma Gandhi Central University at Motihari was attacked and beaten mercilessly. He is struggling for his life in a hospital. Many of us including our EC members have expressed the concern over the incident and are of the view of the serious perusal of issue. This should be pursued for a judicious outcome including representations to the ministers and authorities,” said Akhlaq Ahan, VP AAJ (JNU) in a message to fellow alums.