Kolkata, Aug 21 (IANS) Clashes between activists of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the students’ wing of CPI(M), and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) broke out at Midnapore College in Midnapore town of West Midnapore district on Friday afternoon, injuring a couple of activists from both sides.
The development came just a day after two rounds of SFI‑ABVP clashes at Jadavpur University (JU) in South Kolkata, first on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, and then again on Thursday afternoon.
On Friday, SFI activists at Midnapore College organised a protest gathering within the campus against the damage to JU’s engraved emblem, designed by renowned painter Nandalal Bose, during Thursday’s clashes.
SFI’s district president in West Midnapore, Ranit Bera, alleged that while students were participating peacefully in the protest, ABVP activists suddenly attacked them.
“The ABVP supporters arrived at the protest venue carrying flags and launched a sudden attack on the students protesting peacefully. They even targeted some college teachers and support staff. Some students were injured in the attack,” Bera told media persons.
However, ABVP’s national working committee member in charge of South Bengal, Arunava Dutta, rubbished the allegations.
He said, “On the contrary, SFI activists attacked our supporters who had assembled peacefully within the college premises to condemn the attack on ABVP supporters by SFI activists at JU on Thursday. Around 12 of our supporters were injured. We have asked the police to take necessary action.”
Meanwhile, JU authorities on Friday announced the formation of a three‑member committee to probe the two consecutive clashes. They also lodged an official complaint at the local Jadavpur Police Station. None of the three members of the probe committee are attached to JU.
–IANS
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