Students of UBKV and Trinamool Chhatra Parishad accuse BJP of violence

attack on students
Image Courtesy: Picture by Main Uddin Chisti / Telegraph

The students of Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (UBKV) in Cooch Behar and Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) supporters alleged that armed BJP workers entered the university campus on the evening of Tuesday, assaulting students after they had held a demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in front of BJP MP Jayanta Roy, The Telegraph reported.

On Tuesday, Jalpaiguri BJP MP Jayanta Roy had come to the University to inaugurate an agricultural fair when TMCP supporters and students held an agitation against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). It was after this, that students say, a group of around 20 BJP men, some supposedly carrying firearms, made way into the university premises and started assaulting the students.

General Secretary of the TMCP, Sushmen Biswas told The Telegraph, “The attack was similar to the one at JNU. As we had demonstrated before the MP, they entered the campus with sticks, rods and even guns. They beat us and one of us was hit with the butt of a firearm. We have launched a protest and will continue until the police arrest all of them.”

Bablu Ganguly, a student, also told The Telegraph, “The students shouted ‘go-back’ slogans. Slogans were also raised against the CAA and the NRC. When the MP was leaving the university, they demonstrated in front of him but there was no violence. However, a group of BJP supporters who had gathered outside started throwing stones at the protesters.”

The students of UBKV have since boycotted their exams and launched a protest demanding immediate action against their alleged attackers. The Vice Chancellor of the University too has sent an email to the Superintendent of Police of Cooch Behar. He said, “After the inaugural programme, the MP was leaving the university. We saw some outsiders, who were standing near the entrance, shoving and pushing our students. They also threw stones and bricks at the students. We condemn the attack and have spoken with officials at Nabanna. Not only the students, even the teachers feeling insecure.”

However, BJP leaders have denied the allegations. Sukumar Roy Sarkar, a local BJP leader has said, “Our party does not have any connection with the incident. Some students who support Trinamool are trying to malign our party.”