Kolkata: Subrata Chattopadhyay, a professor at Nabagram Hiralal Pal College in West Bengal’s Hooghly district was 'assaulted' at the campus gate by members of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the student wing of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The incident occurred when TMCP members allegedly tried to force female students to say “Mamata Banerjee Zindabad” and “Trinamool Zindabad”.
There was a conflict between members of TMPC and some senior students. To resolve the matter, Professor Chattopadhyay along with his colleagues intervened. It was then decided that some students will apologise to the student union members. "While they apologised, the union members asked them to utter 'Mamata Banerjee Zindabad' and 'Trinamool Zindabad'," Chattopadhyay said. The professor said members of TMCP always misbehave with college staff and ask them to chant 'Mamata Zindabad.' "But I can't name them. If I do so I will not be able to step in the campus," he said.
Videos of the incident were aired showing the professor getting repeatedly punched in the face and falling to the ground and sent shockwaves across the city, prompting the TMC to tender an apology. Local TMC MLA Prabir Ghosal and party district president Dilip Yadav visited the college where they met the professor and apologised. Ghosal said that “outsiders” who had assaulted the professor would not be spared. The accused Bijoy Sarkar and Sandeep Paul have been arrested. The authorities have decided to allow students inside the college premises having valid identity cards only.
Mamta called for damage control
Chattopadhyay said that he felt reassured after receiving a call from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee soon after the incident. He added that the CM assured him of “stern action against the miscreants.” Reacting to the incident, TMCP chief Trinankur Bhattacharya said he doesn't know if the student who attacked the professor belonged to their student union. "I strongly condemn the act and we are inquiring into the matter. The one who is at fault will definitely be punished," Bhattacharya said.
