Expelled student leader arrested for ‘assaulting’ V-C of Aliah University

According to the police, the incident took place on Friday when Ghiasuddin Mondal along with 20-odd supporters barged into the vice-chancellor’s room and assaulted him.

A purported video of the incident showing Mondal threatening Ali with dire consequences and abusing him also went viral on Saturday. In the purported video, Mondal is heard threatening to kill Ali, who is seated on a chair in his office.

A university official said that the incident took place when Mondal along with a few others went to the V-C’S office and threatened him with dire consequences if the PhD list was not immediately changed and those recommended by him included in it. “They stayed in the VC’s chamber for hours and before leaving, and threatened to return if the list was not revised. They alleged manipulation on the part of the university administration,” the official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police ( Headquarters) Surya Pratap Yadav said that Technocity police received a complaint from an Aliah University student Asifur Rahman on Friday who alleged that Mondal and his supporters assaulted the vice-chancellor. “When the complainant reached the scene, he saw Mondal and his supporters abusing, assaulting and threatening Ali with dire consequences. It was only after the complainant and a few other students intervened that they were able to rescue the vice-chancellor. Based on the complaint, Technocity Police Station registered a case on Sunday,” Yadav said.

The former student leader was arrested from one of the messes of the university.

Mondal was also a former district unit president of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad — the ruling TMC’s student wing.

University officials said that Mondal was expelled from the varsity in 2018 for allegedly indulging in ‘unethical activities’. Incidentally, the university administration had recently announced that Ali’s tenure as the vice-chancellor would be extended.

Governor Dhankhar, who is the ex-officio chancellor of the university, has sought an update of the incident from Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi. “Chief Secretary has been called upon to send full update by 1 pm tomorrow on worrisome scenario reflected in video in viral circulation. Such state of affairs where law violator rogue elements have their way with no fear of law is certainly fearful scenario for law abiders,” Dhankhar stated in a tweet on Sunday.

The incident has evoked a sharp response from opposition parties like the BJP and the CPI(M).

“Such hooliganism of student leaders inside campus which I have also experienced can’t be tolerated. As a teacher, I feel ashamed to see how a vice chancellor has been abused. He appears to be sober and nice human being, hence remained calm and silent. If I was there I would have slapped him right away,” said BJP’s state president Sukanta Banerjee.

CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “They cannot be called students. They are hooligans. There can’t be any mercy to such an act.”

Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad president Trinankur Bhattacharya, who had earlier denied the party’s association with the accused, said, “The accused, Ghiasuddin Mondal has no connection with us. As per my information, some outsiders are responsible for the extremely unfortunate and unprecedented incident.”

(With PTI inputs)