Jalpaiguri, Sept. 28 -- Tension gripped Ananda Chandra College in Jalpaiguri on Monday after a first-year student, known to be an SFI activist, poured kerosene over himself inside a classroom and threatened to set himself on fire, alleging that he had been assaulted by ABVP members.
The incident occurred while classes were in progress. The teacher immediately alerted the principal, who, along with other teachers and non-teaching staff, brought the student out and took him to the office.
The SFI alleged that examinations were underway and claimed ABVP members were preventing SFI activists from appearing for their exams, leading the student to take the extreme step.
The ABVP denied the allegation and claimed the incident was staged.
ABVP block convenor Binayak Das said: "Do students normally carry kerosene with them? The oil was brought there as part of a pre-planned act. It is unfortunate that CPI(M) cadres are repeatedly bringing disrepute to Ananda Chandra College. Police are being called to the college repeatedly. They do not work for the welfare of students. This appears to be an attempt to become a hero on television."
College principal Debashis Das said: "We are trying to ascertain what led to such an incident."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.