The Kolkata Police have filed FIRs against West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, his driver, and Trinamool Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra following a violent incident at Jadavpur University on March 1, where two students were injured after allegedly being hit by the minister’s vehicle. The FIRs were registered after a Calcutta High Court directive mandated that police act on student complaints. The incident stemmed from the students’ demand for immediate elections for the university’s council. Amit Roy, father of an injured student, expressed satisfaction with the legal proceedings, emphasizing the importance of democratic practices.
Kolkata:
On Thursday, the Kolkata Police filed FIRs against West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, his vehicle’s driver, and Trinamool Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra regarding the March 1 incident at Jadavpur University (JU). Two students were seriously injured and hospitalized after being “allegedly and intentionally” struck by the minister’s vehicle.
This FIR was lodged just a day after a Calcutta High Court single-judge bench ordered the Kolkata Police to also register FIRs in response to the complaints from the protesting students rather than solely relying on complaints from the Trinamool Congress-affiliated West Bengal College & University Professors’ Association (WBCUPA).
The accused face multiple charges, including physical assault and issuing threats, among others.
Amit Roy, the father of the injured students, expressed satisfaction with these developments. He stated that in a democratic nation, the role of the police is to adhere to democratic principles.
“Failure to do so contradicts the essence of democracy. The Calcutta High Court’s ruling on Wednesday, mandating that the police also file FIRs based on the students’ complaints, highlights why the public trusts the judiciary,” Amit Roy commented.
On Thursday, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh not only ordered the police to register FIRs due to the students’ complaints but also instructed the state government to provide a comprehensive report on the situation.
The chaos on campus erupted on Saturday when the Minister’s vehicle was reportedly halted upon entering the grounds, leading to a scuffle. The students were pushing for immediate elections for the university’s student council.
Protesting students claimed that as Basu attempted to exit amidst the tensions, his vehicle intentionally struck two of them, resulting in serious injuries that required hospitalization.
During the protests, the Minister sustained minor injuries and fell ill, necessitating a visit to the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital, where he was later discharged.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)