Kolkata: A senior professor of Bengali was thrashed while his students were assaulted for refusing to chant “Mamata Banerjee Zindabad, Trinamul Congress Zindabad” allegedly by a group of the ruling party’s student wing members at a college in Konnagar of Hooghly on Wednesday afternoon.
Subrata Chattopadhyay, the associate professor at Hiralal Paul College in Nabagram, came under attack on the institution premises after he questioned the group why they had kept the college gate closed. He later lodged a complaint with the Uttarpara police station.
The shocking incident took place on a day the Trinamul rallied support behind a section of intellectuals for writing an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging intolerance across the country.
At around 1 pm, a group of female students was clicking photos in a room after their MA (Bengali) fourth semester examination.
“Suddenly some female members of the student union went there and misbehaved with them. A quarrel broke out. I tried to sort out the dispute. Two rounds of talks were held. The MA students agreed to even apologise. Initially three students went to tender an apology,” Prof Chattopadhyay said.
He added, “But the members of the student union asked all to come. So I sent them all. The students were then asked to chant: Mamata Banerjee Zindabad, Trinamul Zindabad. They simply objected to it, questioning the link of politics with the whole incident. One of them was slapped by the leader of the student union.”
Prof Chattopadhyay alleged, “The situation is such that even the principals cannot do anything. The student unions flex their muscles. Goons, inside or outside, all have a free run. I saw one of them inciting the students. Those who beat me were Trinamul student union members.”
He claimed, “My only fault is that I am the district secretary of Professors’ Association. That is why I am their target. No one can question my integrity. But where would we go when one side is asking to shout Jai Shree Ram while another is asking to chant Mamata Banerjee Zindabad?”
