Kolkata, Sept. 21 -- Tension broke out at Bhangar Mahavidyalaya on Monday after BJP leader and newly appointed president of the college governing body, Sayantan Basu faced protests during his first visit to the campus.

Basu arrived at the South 24-Parganas college around 3 pm to take charge as governing body president but was initially unable to enter as SFI and ISF-backed students gathered at the main gate and raised slogans against his appointment. ABVP activists later gathered outside in support of Basu and raised counter-slogans, leading to a confrontation between the two groups as Basu waited in his car.

Police, including Rapid Action Force personnel, were deployed at the spot. Protesters alleged that police scaled the college boundary wall and resorted to lathicharge to disperse them. They also alleged that some students were dragged out of the campus and detained. Following police intervention, Basu entered the college and held a meeting with governing body members, including teacher-in-charge Luna Koyal. He left the campus around 5.45 pm.

"I came for a specific government assignment. My work is complete and I am leaving for Kolkata," Basu said while leaving. On the alleged lathicharge, he said: "I have no idea what happened. I was sitting in my car and the principal opened the gate for me. I did not see anything happen in front of me."

He said he had completed the formalities associated with taking charge and would return if required. "If the principal calls me and needs my help or if I need to take any decision and the government asks me to come, I will come," he said.

The protesting students said their objection was not to Basu's appointment but to the alleged presence of outsiders accompanying him.

"If the government nominates the president, there is no question of stopping him. But if outsiders come with him and create a commotion, the students will certainly protest," said ISF leader and Bhangar MLA Nawsad Siddiqui.

SFI and ISF-backed students later staged a demonstration outside Bhangar Police Station, demanding the release

of those detained.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.