Amid the spiralling furore over a first-year undergraduate student, Swapnadip Kundu's death, inside Kolkata's Jadavpur University hostel few days ago, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday blamed the university's left-backed student outfit Students Federation of India (SFI) for the death
The chief minister accused the student outfit of creating an "environment of terror" at prestigious institutions.
What did CM Mamata Banerjee say?
"Who are these people? They are the Marxists. Even today, they are in cahoots with the BJP and the Congress in Bengal. They consider Trinamool to be their prime enemy. They don't have an iota of shame," Ms Banerjee said.
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Further attacking the Left, the Chief Minister said, "The boy was wearing an amulet, but he was forced to take that off. These people (Left-wing students) apparently told him that this is a 'Red Fort'."
The university is among the last strongholds of Leftist student politics.
The CM also said, "These people consider the university to be a place which they own. They don't allow police inside the premises. They don't allow CCTV cameras to be installed in the university campus. They rag students. These people have created an environment of terror in such a prestigious institution like Jadavpur University."
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Ms Banerjee also said she is "extremely saddened and appalled" over the student's death that has triggered widespread anger across the state. She also raised questions on Jadavpur University, saying that only gaining education is not enough.
"One has to be humane and empathetic enough. But does that mean that everyone is equally bad? No. I don't blame all sections of the students. But it is a section of CPI(M) who tries to manipulate the young students. They consider it to be their right to torture and humiliate the new students. They strip students also," Ms Banerjee said.
About the incident
On Wednesday, 18-year-old Swapnadip, who hailed from Nadia's Bagula, fell from the second-floor balcony of the main hostel building around 11.45 pm and succumbed to death while undergoing treatment at a hospital at 3.40 am on Thursday, according to police.
It has also been reported that he was heard shouting "I am not gay" repeatedly before his death. Several fellow students have confirmed it as well.
The deceased's body was found in a naked state after he fell from the balcony.
Police have apprehended a former Jadavpur University student, under the charge of ragging the 18-year-old boy. The arrest was made after Swapnadip's father lodged an FIR against him.
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It has been reported that the accused, Sourabh Chowdhury, who did his MSc in Mathematics in 2022, continued staying at the main hostel who, during interrogation, confessed his involvement in the ragging incident. Police arrested him following his admission of guilt.
