Jadavpur Violence: Probe Panel Meets This Week as VC Returns from Injury
Jadavpur University's probe committee, constituted to investigate the violent clashes on campus earlier this month, is expected to convene its first meeting this week after Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya returns to duty, officials said on Wednesday.
Mr. Bhattacharya sustained a knee injury on Monday night when he tripped and fell while leaving a meeting with stakeholders. Doctors advised three days' rest, and he is expected to return to the campus on Thursday or Friday, according to an office-bearer of the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA).
The violence broke out early on August 20, following a general meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students' Union (FETSU) on the evening of August 19. Clashes erupted between members of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-leaning student groups, leaving several students injured. Both sides accused each other of bringing outsiders onto the campus.
In a related incident on the afternoon of August 20, supporters of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and ABVP scuffled with police as they attempted to enter the university from two ends of the same road. Law enforcement officers struggled to control the situation, and during the melee, the university's emblem was pulled down from gate number 4.
The probe committee was formed by the university administration in the aftermath of the violence. Its first meeting is expected to outline the terms of reference, finalise the timeline for the inquiry, and decide on the procedure for gathering evidence. The committee is likely to record statements from students, faculty, and security personnel, and examine CCTV footage.
Student organisations, including the SFI, the Revolutionary Socialist Federation (RSF), the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) and FETSU, have been seeking to meet the authorities after the Vice-Chancellor's return. SFI leader Anjil Das said they look forward to the committee's meeting and will present a deputation outlining their demands.
The students have demanded action against all those found responsible in the clashes, including university officials and security personnel. They have also asked that those under investigation be barred from entering the campus during the probe, arguing that this would ensure the process is not influenced or disrupted.
Kolkata Police officers visited the university on Tuesday and collected CCTV footage related to the clashes. The police are also investigating the matter, and the footage could serve as key evidence for both the police inquiry and the university's internal probe.
The clashes have brought into focus the long-standing rivalry between student groups affiliated with different political ideologies in West Bengal. The ABVP is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, while the SFI is linked to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Both groups have accused each other of instigating violence and bringing outsiders into the campus.
No public details have been released about the committee's mandate, and the first meeting is expected to provide clarity on the investigation's scope and timeline. The proceedings will be closely watched by students and faculty, who are seeking assurances that the inquiry will be impartial and thorough.
The return of the Vice-Chancellor is seen as a crucial step in restoring normalcy on the campus. With the committee set to begin its work, the focus will be on ensuring that the inquiry is credible, that all voices are heard, and that those responsible for the violence are held accountable.
