Lathicharge at St Paul’s after students clash

At 11.30 am,the SFI students put a blockade on Amherst Street. The ISF students blocked the college gate,asking students to boycott classes. When the police intervened and the blockade had to be lifted from Amherst Street,the two groups gathered around the college and a pitched battle started around 12.20 pm. Two crude bombs were hurled outside the college premises and the police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the students.

According to the police,three constables sustained injuries in the incident. At 12.50 pm,the SFI students again blocked Amherst Street for about an hour and once again the police had to intervene. Many students were injured in the scuffle.

“We had gathered at the college gates when SFI supporters started brickbatting us. They threw a stone towards a girl,but it missed her and hit me,” said Subhajit Patra,a second year BCom student,who had to get three stitches on his head.

“The SFI students,along with the police,attacked our students in the college. Two students of PIC were injured. They hurled bombs at them but police targeted our students,” said Tamghana Ghosh,the state president of the students union.

The SFI,meanwhile,alleged that their students were targeted by the ISF students. “The students who defied the strike were targeted. The opposing students threw stones at us,in which three students were injured,” said Madhuja Sen Roy,Kolkata district president of SFI.

Pointing out the number of clashes in colleges across the state,Trinamool Chhatra Praishad leader Baishanor Chattopadhyay alleged that the SFI is responsible for it. “The SFI is trying to gain control of various colleges during admission,to which we are protesting. They are using force to create disturbance in colleges,” said Chattopadhyay. The TMCP is scheduled to hold a meeting on Thursday over the issue. “Five people were arrested. We are trying to ascertain their identity,” said Jawed Shamim,DC,Detective Department,Kolkata police.