West Bengal CM Blames “CPI-M Faithfuls” for Student’s Tragic Death at Jadavpur University

New Delhi, August 16, 2023: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has pointed to a “small section of CPI-M faithfuls” within Jadavpur University (JU) as responsible for the alleged ragging incident that tragically led to the death of a first-year student.

She asserted that these individuals treat JU as their “fiefdom” and believe it is their “birthright” to subject rural students to torment. Speaking at a Trinamool Congress meeting in Behala, Banerjee clarified that most students of the esteemed university should not be held accountable for the ragging incident.

However, the CPI-M countered Banerjee’s claims, accusing her of indulging in “cheap politics” over the student’s unfortunate demise.

Banerjee stated, “Jadavpur University is surely a reputed institution and I do not blame most of the students there, not the common student. However, a small section belonging to the CPI(M) fold consider it their own place… They (alleged tormentors of the boy in the hostel) don’t have an iota of shame for what they did.”

She also highlighted an atmosphere of terror within JU and emphasized the need for justice. A 17-year-old Bengali honors undergraduate student fell from a hostel balcony on August 9 and died the next morning, sparking allegations of physical torture and ragging by his seniors.

Reacting to Banerjee’s comments, CPI-M central committee member Sujan Chakraborty accused her of engaging in political rhetoric and criticized her for not addressing the matter as an administrator. He noted that the CPI-M’s student wing (SFI) advocates for democratic rights and opposes the dictatorial policies of the TMCP and ABVP.

The incident has triggered widespread outrage, prompting protests by various student bodies and parties. The student’s outfit involved in the incident is not affiliated with SFI, but another ultra-left group controlling the engineering department’s students’ union.