Left-Trinamool scuffle spreads to multiple districts in West Bengal

Clashes erupted across several colleges and universities across West Bengal on Monday, as student activists associated with Left parties and Trinamool Congress supporters engaged in scuffle and violence. The development came as the students’ unions had called for a strike across higher educational institutions in the State demanding the resignation of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu Clashes were reported at the University of North Bengal, Vidyasagar University, Murshidabad University, and the district of Cooch Behar where Left and Trinamool activists came face to face and were seen pushing and shoving each other. Jadavpur University Teachers Association did not support the strike, but their General Secretary Partha Pratim Roy told The Hindu, “We support students’ demand for a union and condemn police harassment.” This comes after Mr. Basu’s car ran over a student inside Jadavpur University on Saturday. Mr. Chakraborty reacted to the heckling and said, “The party which can run over students, what better can be expected of them?” West Bengal Congress State President Subhankar Sarkar also went to meet Indranuj Roy at the hospital, the first-year student who came under Bratya Basu’s car and sustained major injuries.