20 injured in campus violence in Bengal

Kolkata, Jan 19: At least 20 people, including two policemen, were injured Monday in two separate clashes between student activists of the RSS, Trinamool Congress and the CPI in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district, police said.

Police carried out a baton charge to control the situation after activists of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and the Communist Party of India-affiliated All India Students Federation (AISF) clashed over students union elections in Raiganj.

The Bharatiya Janata Party sought the intervention of Governor K.N. Tripathi while the Left Front has strongly condemned the clashes and demanded the arrests of the perpetrators.

While 12 people including Raiganj police station inspector-in-charge Gautam Chakraborty were injured in the clashes at Surendranath Mahavidyalaya, more than a half dozen people sustained injuries at the Meghnad Saha College, police said.

Former minister and CPI leader Srikumar Mukherjee alleged that TMCP activists attacked an AISF procession, which he was leading.

"Our students were prevented from filing nominations papers and when we protested, TMCP activists attacked us," said Mukherjee who later sat on a demonstration demanding arrests of the accused.

State BJP president Rahul Sinha met Tripathi seeking his intervention.

"TMCP activists opened fired and hurled bombs injuring several ABVP activists. We have apprised the governor about the clashes and he has assured that he will seek a report on this from the state home secretary," Sinha told media persons.

Expressing concern over the growing campus violence, Left Front chairman Biman Bose accused police of being a mute spectator and demanded the arrests of all who attacked Mukherjee and AISF activists.

"Trinamool goons attacked our students with bullets and bombs. Even our leader Mukherjee was also attacked. We strongly condemn the attacks and demand the immediate arrests of the attackers," he said.

IANS