Kolkata, March 19 (H.S.) – Tension at Jadavpur University continues to rise as police have arrested another student in connection with the arson at the ‘Shikshabandhu’ office, a Trinamool-backed organization. Following the arrest, students staged a protest outside Jadavpur police station, accusing the police of falsely implicating students.

The arrested student has been identified as Sauptik Chandra, a second-year Civil Engineering student. According to police sources, a fire broke out at the ‘Shikshabandhu’ office on the night of March 1, leading to an FIR at the local police station. Sauptik was summoned for questioning on Tuesday at Jadavpur police station, where he was arrested later in the evening. Following the arrest, protests erupted on campus, continuing into Wednesday morning.

Several students, including Sauptik, were called for questioning regarding the March 1 incident. They arrived at the police station together in a rally. After questioning, only Sauptik was arrested, triggering an immediate protest by students outside the police station. The protesting students accused the police of bias, claiming that while their complaints were ignored, the police were actively targeting students.

Raising slogans against the police, students alleged that the authorities were engaging in one-sided action. They claimed that their complaints had been disregarded while students were being continuously targeted.

The unrest at Jadavpur University traces back to March 1, when the annual conference of Webcupa, a Trinamool-backed teachers' organization, was held on campus. Tensions flared as Education Minister Bratya Basu arrived at the event, with left-wing student organizations like SFI, AISA, and DSF chanting ‘Go Back’ slogans against him.

The situation escalated further when some students allegedly attacked the minister’s car. However, students argue that a protester was injured by the minister’s vehicle. Later that night, the ‘Shikshabandhu’ office was set on fire, intensifying the conflict.

So far, three students have been arrested in connection with the incident. The first arrest was made on March 2, when Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma announced that Sahil Ali had been taken into custody. He was later granted bail by the court.

On March 12, another student, Soumyadeep alias Ujaan, a first-year Philosophy student, was arrested. His judicial custody ended on Tuesday, and he was granted bail. However, police immediately filed a new petition in court, seeking his re-arrest.

Meanwhile, controversy is also brewing over posters advocating ‘Azad Kashmir’ found on campus. Police have launched an investigation into this matter and are also seeking Soumyadeep’s re-arrest in connection with the posters.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh