West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu and a student were allegedly injured on Saturday amid a protest demanding the immediate announcement of the student union election dates at the Jadavpur University turned violent.
The demonstration was led by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)].
Minister Attacked by Protesters
According to reports, Basu was surrounded by over 100 students while leaving the university after attending the annual general meeting of the West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA). He attempted to speak to the protesters before tensions escalated.
In a shocking turn of events, students reportedly damaged the windscreen of his car, smashed the rearview mirror, and even brandished shoes at him. His security personnel struggled to escort him to safety as the situation spiraled out of control.
Bratya Basu Hospitalized After Attack
Following the incident, Basu was rushed to the state-run SSKM Hospital, where he complained of uneasiness and suffered cuts on his left hand from broken glass shards.
“I have undergone an X-ray test as I felt pain in my chest. However, doctors told me there was no serious injury. There were some external marks on the upper part of my body, but these are not serious,” Basu told reporters after receiving medical attention.
SFI Claims Police Ran Over Protesters
SFI leader Kaushiki Bhattacharya refuted allegations of violence, claiming that their demand was solely to discuss student union elections with the minister.
She further alleged that two SFI activists sustained serious injuries when Basu’s convoy ran over their ankles. “We did not resort to violence. It is the TMC outsiders who joined some of their sympathizers on campus to attack our activists and use abusive language against us,” she said.
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The incident has sparked a political controversy, with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders condemning the attack on the education minister. TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh slammed the protesters, warning against mistaking the ruling party’s patience for weakness.
“It was a planned attack on a minister by left ultra-left elements who only want to create chaos,” Ghosh stated after visiting Basu at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the SFI has called for a student strike on Sunday at 10 AM in protest against the alleged police violence.
The situation at Jadavpur University remains tense as political tensions rise, with student unions and government officials at loggerheads over the election demands.
