CCTV footage showing ‘outsiders’ on campus
The probe panel has been constituted to investigate the Aug 19 and 20 vandalism and student assaults on the campus. It was past 12.30 am and we were at the rear side of Aurobindo Bhavan when we saw a mob running at us. JU ABVP president Nikhil Das said, “We, on behalf of ABVP, have lodged a formal complaint against 25 individuals before the enquiry committee along with the videos of the clash on Wednesday evening. The complaint also outlines the subsequent events that took place between Aug 21 and 24 and also the persons involved. I was admitted at a hospital and was released at 3 am. We want the committee to probe events starting from Aug 19 to Aug 24 including how the CCTV footage was leaked. At the same time, I have identified those from the university who were part of the violence and vandalism and want strict punitive action against them. ” Basu, secretary of SFI, JU local committee, has also written about how ABVP supporters climbed gate number 4 on Aug 20 , threw eggs, stones and water bottles at students and faculties.
PG student Anushna Das, who was trapped inside Aurobindo Bhavan, when the mob was rampaging the campus, said, “I have filed the complaint and also attached the videos — the ones I took and that were circulated on social media — as evidence. PG student Abhinaba Basu said, “It was an attempt to murder us by the mob. I have also identified the insiders who were part of the mob and those who, we feel, assisted the outsiders to enter the campus. I feared for my life and took shelter at Aurobindo Bhavan, where the guard locked the collapsible gate. The mob tried to break the gate and threatened us. They burned banners and flags and threw balls of flames at us through the gate. They made obscene gestures. I caught the entire act on my mobile camera as I was doing a Facebook Live. We also have other videos of outsiders, who are of left-ideology, at night. Our complaint pertains to what happened at the general body meeting where ABVP members were thrashed by left-leaning students in a way that could be life threatening to the law and order problem at the university. Nikhil added that he had personally lodged a complaint where he stated that he was assaulted as he tried to intervene and save the lives of ABVP members during the clash. “They hurled caste-based abuse at me. They pushed me and punched me. I lodged a complaint at with the SC and ST commission and have attached that complaint too. They tried to break the gate. they threw those balls of flames at us While they were burning banners and flags. It was dangerous and could have caught fire any time. They tried to burn us. I have written my experience in the complaint and also highlighted that none from the authorities received our call when we were in danger. “They threatened students too. They damaged JU emblem designed by Nandalal Basu. The committee must probe this too.
Kolkata: Jadavpur University students from both sides of the political and ideological divide have started lodging their complaints along with video and CCTV footage as evidence at the designated email address ahead of the inquiry committee’s first meeting on Thursday.
JU issued a notice on Monday stating that all concerned can send their depositions on the vandalism and violence to a designated email address by 10 am on Aug 27. Waves of violence and vandalism rocked Jadavpur University in the early hours of Aug 19 as right-wing supporters entered the campus and went on a rampage past midnight and then did a repeat on Aug 20 afternoon outside the campus. The depositions will be placed before probe panel at its first meeting.