The students boycotted their exams and launched a protest demanding immediate steps against the attackers

Students and Trinamul Chhatra Parishad supporters at an agriculture university in Cooch Behar have alleged that armed BJP activists entered the campus on Tuesday evening and assaulted them soon after they had demonstrated in front of a BJP parliamentarian over the new citizenship regimen.

The students of Uttarbanga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (UBKV) boycotted their exams on Wednesday and launched a protest demanding immediate steps against the attackers. District BJP leaders denied the allegations.

On Tuesday Jayanta Roy, the BJP MP of Jalpaiguri, had come to inaugurate an agricultural fair at UBKV when students supporting the TMCP began protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the NRC.

“The students shouted ‘go-back’ slogans. Slogans were also raised against the CAA and the NRC. When the MP was leaving the university, they demonstrated in front of him but there was no violence. However, a group of BJP supporters who had gathered outside started throwing stones at the protesters,” said Bablu Ganguly, a student.

After the programme ended, a group of around 20 BJP supporters, some of whom were allegedly carrying firearms, entered the premises and started beating the students.

“The attack was similar to the one at JNU. As we had demonstrated before the MP, they entered the campus with sticks, rods and even guns. They beat us and one of us was hit with the butt of a firearm. We have launched a protest and will continue until the police arrest all of them,” said Sushmen Biswas, the assistant general secretary of the TMCP unit at the varsity.

Chirantan Chattopadhyay, the vice-chancellor, said: “After the inaugural programme, the MP was leaving the university. We saw some outsiders, who were standing near the entrance, shoving and pushing our students. They also threw stones and bricks at the students. We condemn the attack and have spoken with officials at Nabanna,” he said.

The VC has also sent an email to the superintendent of police of Cooch Behar and sought help. “Not only the students even the teachers are feeling insecure,” Chattopadhyay said.

Contractual employees of the university held a demonstration on Wednesday demanding security on the campus.

BJP leaders denied the allegation. “Our party does not have any connection with the incident. Some students who support Trinamul are trying to malign our party,” said Sukumar Roy Sarkar, a local BJP leader.