Teachers under the banner of Rajbanshi Bhasha Sikshak Samiti and Rajbanshi Samaj demonstrated at Raiganj University on Wednesday, alleging that vice-chancellor Dipak Chandra Roy had been at the receiving end of caste abuse.

On Thursday, they also took out a march to the office of the superintendent of
police and submitted a memorandum seeking steps against those who had “humiliated Roy”.

The demonstrators alleged that the VC had been unethically harassed over his caste by a section of the non-teaching staff of the varsity and kept confined to his chamber on Tuesday.

The VC is from the Rajbanshi community.

“In the name of a protest, the VC was harassed and abused over his caste. He fell ill because of humiliation. We want punishment for those involved in the incident,” said Kartick Chandra Barman, adviser to the Samiti.

“They kept him confined in his chamber. This is mental torture. We have information that Rajganj MLA (of the TMC) Krishna Kalyani asked him to resign. He has no authority to give such instruction to the VC. We will not tolerate such acts upon a teacher from the Rajbanshi community,” said Narada Barman, another representative of the Samiti.

On Tuesday afternoon, a group of non-teaching staff under the banner of Sara Bangla Trinamool Siksha Bandhu Samiti resorted to protests and confined Roy to his chamber, demanding the withdrawal of a suspension order issued against a non-teaching employee. Later, supporters of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad joined them.

The demonstration continued throughout the night. On Wednesday morning, Roy fell ill and was admitted to the Raiganj government hospital.

While Samiti members demonstrated at the varsity, MLA Kalyani accused the VC of working in connivance with the BJP and trying to play caste politics at the varsity.

“Ever since he assumed the post, there have been problems in the university. He is in cahoots with the BJP and is working against the interest of the varsity,” said the MLA.

Asked if he had asked the VC to resign, Kalyani denied the charge. “I have complained to state education minister Bratya Basu about him (the VC). He is playing caste politics in the institution. This is unacceptable,” he added.

VC Roy could not be contacted. His cell phone was switched off.

Durlav Sarkar, the registrar of the varsity, said the VC was out of station for a “medical consultation”.