Kolkata, Sept. 22 -- A Muslim professor at Kolkata's Surendranath College was forced to resign on September 11 over an attendance issue. What followed was Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members performing a purification ritual.

On September 11, a group of ABVP members gheraoed the office of Mohammadi Tarannum for almost a day, drafted her resignation letter, and forced her to sign it.

After police escorted her to safety, the students lit incense sticks and sprinkled Ganga jal (water), in what they described as purification of the premises.

What was the issue?

Mohammadi Tarannum was the vice-principal and teacher-in-charge of Surendranath College. Students must have 65 per cent attendance to sit for semester examinations. A...