Kolkata: A day after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asked Jadavpur University authorities to probe objectionable and anti-national wall graffiti inside hostel premises, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manoj Kumar Jha visited the campus on Tuesday to investigate the allegations.
He spoke to university registrar Selim Box Mandal about the graffiti and the recent clashes between Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left student organisations. Police had earlier sought CCTV footage from the university for incidents on Wednesday and Thursday. Jha and Mandal discussed how they would collect the footage during a 45 minute meeting.
Registrar Mandal said there were confidential matters that could not be disclosed but confirmed that the process of providing the requested footage had begun. He added that the Vice Chancellor was unwell and therefore he represented the university in discussions with the police.
State Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chatterjee condemned the incident and appealed to students, teachers and researchers to maintain peace on campus. He said Jadavpur University must retain its reputation as a centre of education and excellence, urging that “petty troubles” should not tarnish its global standing.
On August 19 and 20, clashes broke out between activists of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and ABVP outside the Jadavpur University campus in south Kolkata.
The first confrontation occurred at the 8B Bus Stand crossing between SFI activists and security personnel, while the second took place in front of the main gate between SFI and ABVP activists. During the second clash, the engraved emblem of Jadavpur University, designed by painter Nandalal Bose, was damaged. It was repaired and reinstalled at gate number four on August 21.
University authorities have formed an inquiry committee, headed by former Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee, to investigate the clashes on August 19 and 20. The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for August 27.
On Monday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari posted a video on X showing the graffiti and reiterated that educational institutions are sacred spaces of learning and nation building.
He said campus premises must not be used for spreading propaganda or anti India sentiment. The Chief Minister’s Office had received videos and photographs from students through the grievance cell, reporting objectionable graffiti inside the Arts Division Boys Hostel.
(IANS)
