Attempt-to-murder FIR against Bratya, his driver

Kolkata: Police on Thursday registered an FIR against state education minister Bratya Basu, his driver Rehan Molla and Jadavpur University professor Om Prakash Mishra, a day after Calcutta High Court asked the Bengal administration to "act like a guardian" and treat JU student Indranuj Roy's email to police as an FIR.

The sections in the FIR pertain to alleged offences like attempting to murder, outraging a woman's modesty and assault. The HC will hear the case again at 4pm next Wednesday, when the state is likely to submit a "comprehensive report" on what happened on the JU campus on March 1. Basu went there to attend a professors' meet when he was besieged by a mob of JU students, who demanded that he meet them and declare union poll dates.

Cops had earlier lodged seven FIRs, including two on their own, prompting the court to say on Wednesday that they were from "one perspective (and) one-sided"; the HC also said it would "give time" to police to investigate. "The state has to behave like a state," it had added.

Basu did not react but Mishra said he was yet to get any FIR copy. "I do not know what has motivated the so-called FIR. It appears this is orchestrated as part of a conspiracy to shield the perpetrators (of the assault)," he said. "I do not know the complainant and he did not come in contact with me at any point. I had nothing to do with the event (the WBCUPA annual general meeting) besides being a special invitee as a former vice-chancellor."

"My car was attacked after the minister left the campus. I was pulled out of the car, beaten up and had to walk a bit and then take a news media car to leave the campus. There was no question of anyone being hurt because my car did not move even an inch. There is enough video footage to show my car being attacked and me being threatened," Mishra said.

Basu went to SSKM Hospital after the assault.

Cops registered the FIR on the basis of a complaint by Roy, who had to be admitted to hospital with an injury near his left eye. His father, Amit, appealed that the FIR against his son be dropped after getting a call from the state education minister on Tuesday. "I have maintained I am against undemocratic means of protest. But this time, under the guidance and advice of lawyers, the students have taken a legal path and I appreciate that," Amit, education administrator at Rajabazar Science College, said. "He said he would consider my appeal. But there has been no further response from him," he said. But he had faith in the judiciary, he said, and hoped it would ensure a fair probe if the administration failed to act maturely.

(inputs from Poulami Roy Banerjee and Tamaghna Banerjee)


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