‘TMCP’ members assault teacher

GHATAL: A day after a teacher in Kakdwip knocked on Raj Bhavan doors against an alleged assault on him by pro-Trinamool teachers, a faculty member of a Ghatal college accused the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) general secretary of the institution and 20 others of beating him in protest against his Facebook post against them.
Amit Ray, the economics head of the department of Ghatal Rabindra Satabarshiki Maha Vidyalaya, lodged a complaint when officers from Ghatal police station reached the college.
In his January 16 Facebook post, Ray accused the TMCP unit of the college of resorting to undemocratic practices on the first day of filing nominations for the college union poll that day. In the post, Ray wrote, “The college authorities have locked gates of the campus on the first day of filing nominations to ensure that none other than TMCP members could submit nominations papers for the poll. Many are roaming on campus with college I-cards hanging from their necks. But there is no way to know whether or not they are actually students. The TMCP is making a no-holds-barred bid to win the college union poll uncontested.” The post got six likes, two comments and was shared with five people.
On Tuesday, general secretary of the college’s TMCP unit Hemanta Das and a group of students requested Ray to come out when he was sitting in the teachers’ room after classes around 2.30pm. Das is a third year B A Pass student. Ray alleged, “When I was sitting in the common room, Das and others called me out. Once I did so, Das asked me why I had posted such comments against them on Facebook. They started heckling me, rained blows on my face and tore my pullover. Some of my colleagues rescued me and took me back to the common room. A few minutes later, Das was back with a group of about 20. They barged into the common room and started beating me up severely. Other teachers came to my rescue. Das and his group then left the college.”
Teachers informed police and a team from Ghatal PS reached the college around 4.30pm. The teacher, who was allegedly assaulted, wrote a complaint letter and submitted it to police. He named Das and also mentioned about 20 more unidentified youths in his complaint.
Teacher in charge (TIC) Lakshmi Kanta Ray, who was out of college, held a meeting with teachers to learn about the incident. Later, he said, “I was not in the college. I am trying to know from the teachers what exactly had happened.”
Denying allegations against him, Das said, “I was not in the college when the incident took place. There was no such protest against any Facebook post. It was a personal problem some students had with the teacher.”
West Midnapore SP Bharati Ghosh said, “We have received a complaint and have started a case.”