Protests escalated outside Jadavpur Police Station on Tuesday following the arrest of Souptik Chandra, a second-year civil engineering student at Jadavpur University.
Chandra was detained in connection with the March 1 violent protest on campus, during which the office of Shikshabandhu, a union affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), was set on fire.
Police Summons and Student Protests
Authorities had summoned 16 students for questioning regarding the March 1 unrest, which stemmed from a confrontation involving the TMC-affiliated professors' union. During the incident, West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu allegedly faced hostility from left-wing student groups.
“On the same day, the Shikshabandhu office was set ablaze, and the investigation identified multiple suspects, including Souptik Chandra,” a police official stated.
As the 16 summoned students arrived at the police station, a large group of their peers gathered outside in protest, condemning what they claimed to be false accusations and targeted arrests. The protesters further alleged that some of the individuals summoned were no longer university students and resided outside Kolkata, making their involvement in the incident questionable.
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Tensions Rise Following Arrest
The situation escalated as news of Chandra’s arrest spread. Students intensified their demonstrations, demanding his immediate release and an end to what they termed as a politically motivated crackdown. Protesters also called for the withdrawal of police summonses, arguing that the authorities were unfairly targeting students under fabricated charges.
This is not the first arrest related to the case. Previously, Sahil Ali, another student, was detained and later granted bail. Ujan, another accused, was also arrested but later released.
Legal Pushback Against Police Action
The students’ lawyer strongly criticised the police’s handling of the case, accusing them of misleading tactics.
“The police initially summoned the students only for questioning but later shifted their stance, claiming to have received fresh evidence justifying arrests,” he alleged. He further argued that no clear reasons were provided for the detentions, calling it a case of harassment despite the students' cooperation.
With protests intensifying, the situation at Jadavpur University remains volatile, highlighting the growing tensions between student groups and law enforcement over alleged political interference on campus.
Also Read: Jadavpur University student arrested for campus violence
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