Bengal college principal alleges attack by students

A college principal in West Bengal Saturday was hospitalised after being injured in an attack carried out allegedly by Students Federations of India (SFI) activist. The students' group denied its involvement.

The incident took place in Kalinagar Mahavidyalaya in North 24 Parganas district where principal Manoranjan Naskar alleged that he was assaulted by SFI activists who barged into his cabin Saturday afternoon.

The alleged attack comes barely days after three college teachers in North Dinajpur were allegedly assaulted for preventing a Trinamool Congress leader's wife from cheating during an examination.

"A large number of SFI activists entered my cabin and assaulted me and ransacked my room. They even tried to hit me with an iron chain and had I not moved away my head would have been smashed," said Naskar, now undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Naskar said that the SFI activists have "conspired to attack him" as he tried to intervene and settle a fight between members of SFI and its rival Trinamool Congress Chattra Parishad.

Naskar said he will file a police complaint against his attackers after being discharged from hospital.

SFI state secretary Debojyoti Das, however, denied involvement of its members.

"SFI members are not involved in this. The principal was not attacked. He was injured when he fell down while trying to pacify students. However, we are discussing the matter and if any of our members is involved he will be punished," said Das.