A group of Visva-Bharati students carrying iron rods and stumps went on the rampage at a hostel and hospital on the campus on Wednesday night, attacking students who had disrupted a lecture on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act by Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta at the varsity last week.
One student, Swapnanil Mukherjee, who suffered multiple injuries, is under treatment at the Pearson Memorial Hospital run by the varsity.
Several student outfits alleged that the attack was “an act of revenge” by the ABVP which is affiliated to the BJP.
The two arrested in connection with the attack at Visva-Bharati. Picture by Indrajit Roy
Eyewitnesses said a group of 10-15 students led by Achinta Bagdi had entered the senior boys’ hostel, Vidya Bhavana, on Wednesday and attacked students whom they had threatened earlier in connection with the January 8 gherao of Dasgupta.
“The goons attacked me and two others with iron rods, stumps and wooden logs. When we tried to escape, they chased us to the street,” said Swapnanil, a third-year economics undergraduate student.
“They were yelling at us for protesting Dasgupta’s lecture. Security personnel who saw them did not act,” added Swapnanil, who represents a Left student’s organisation on the campus.
Angshuk Mukherjee, a student and eyewitness, said: “The attackers are goons backed by varsity authorities and the vice-chancellor. Bagdi is perceived to be close to VC Bidyut Chakrabarty. We had seen Bagdi and his team with the VC recently when they were trying to clear the Pous Mela grounds.”
The attackers reached the hospital also and didn’t spare those students who had brought the three hostel boarders for admission.
Two video clips show Bagdi and his associates chasing the students, while the deputy proctor of the varsity, Sudeb Pratim Basu, trying to prevent them. The footage also shows security and senior varsity officials standing helplessly.
Police on Thursday arrested two of the accused and charged them on several counts, including attempt to murder. The duo were produced in a Bolpur court and remanded in police custody for nine days.
The arrested duo claimed they belonged to Trinamul.
However, Trinamul denied the claim. “Achinta Bagdi was with our party earlier. But we have heard that he was involved in ABVP activities in the recent past. We stand with the students,” said Debabrata Sarkar, a Trinamul leader and president of Visva-Bharati’s Karmi Sabha.
ABVP leaders at Visva-Bharati denied the charges. On the organisation’s social media handle, they posted pictures of Bagdi with Trinamul leaders.
Before his arrest, Bagdi said: “I am with Trinamul. One of my juniors was beaten by Left-wing students at the hospital. If the party denies my connection with it, I have nothing to say.”
