Professors' assault: VC asks Bengal govt to take action

Calcutta University Vice chancellor Suranjan Das today urged West Bengal government to take action against the assault of professors allegedly by TMC Chhatra Parishad activists, stating that it would be tough for him to act as the VC, if action was not taken on the basis of his report.

"I have submitted a compact report regarding the incident to the Education Minister. In my confidential report, I have clearly stated what happened on that fateful day, who got assaulted and who were involved in the assault. I have clearly stated that if action is not taken then it would be a problem for me to act as a VC and that would hamper governance," Das said.

The VC's comments come in the backdrop of the uproar over the brutal assault on Calcutta University professors by alleged TMCP activists on Wednesday.

"If you see that day's video footage, I was there to save my colleagues when they were attacked. I tried my best to stop it. If I am not saying anything, that doesn't mean that I am silent, my actions speak louder than words," he said.

When asked why is he not naming the culprits who were behind the attack, Das said, "In my confidential report I have stated each and every fact as it happened. So it would not be appropriate for me to speak in public about it."

Meanwhile the professors who were assaulted, today met state education minister Partha Chatterjee and apprised him about the incident.

TMCP leader Sourav Adhikary under whom the attack allegedly took place also met Chatterjee today.

The VC, however, denied having given an appointment with Adhikary, who sought to meet him today.

The teaching fraternity took to the streets yesterday against the assault.

The professors, who were joined by the non-teaching staff, took out a rally from Rajabazar Science College, a premier institute in the city, to the famed College Square about 2 km away, wearing black masks and carrying placards denouncing the alleged assault.

Several intellectuals of the city have also condemned the incident.Asked why he went to meet the state education minister as the head of an autonomous body, Calcutta University Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das said the university Chancellor was not here on that day.

"The education minister rang me up and asked me to give a report. Shall I not give it? Autonomy should be there. I tried to maintain it," the VC said.

"If the Chancellor were in town I would go to him. I have sought appointment with the Chancellor and I will give the report to him too," he said.

TMC MP Sugato Bose described the incident as "unfortunate and a blot" and said it should not have happened.

"I have expressed my concern to the education minister and he said he would take appropriate steps in this regard.

Students should always respect teachers," he said.