People's Democracy

Bengal: SFI Condemns Hooligan Attack on Its Cadre             

THROUGH a statement issued on December 13, the Students Federation of India (SFI) has condemned the brutal attack on its activists in Dinabandhu Andrews College, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, describing it as yet another heinous incident to curb the democratic rights of the students community. The attack took place when SFI cadre were entering the college around 11 am on the day in order to collect the nomination forms for election to the students union. These elections are scheduled to take place on December 23.

Miscreants and anti-social elements organised under the banner of Trinamul Chhatra Parishad attacked the SFI activists who were not allowed to enter the college premises. Ten SFI activists were hospitalised with serious injuries. The hooligans also attacked other leaders of the democratic movement in the area. Former all-India general secretary of SFI, Kallol Roy, was also beaten up and had to be hospitalised.

The SFI statement said this incident in the Andrews College was in consonance with the increasing attacks on students in particular and the Left supporters in general after the new government took office in West Bengal. Numerous student unions have been captured through brute force, with the state administration playing the role of silent spectators. SFI activists are not being allowed to even participate in elections. The December 13 incident in the Andrews College testified to an intensification of attacks to curb the democratic rights of the students community of West Bengal.

The central executive committee of the SFI has urged upon all its units to rise in protest against the forces that have been diligent in suppressing the voice of the democratic students community through might and force. It demanded immediate arrest of the miscreants.

The SFI CEC also demanded that appropriate measures must be taken in ‘democratic’ Bengal so that students can have a chance to at least participate in the student union elections.