Governor blames 'outsiders' for Jadavpur disturbances, varsity restricts entry

West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi Thursday accused "outsiders" of "creating trouble" at the Jadavpur University, which announced restriction on visitors citing Wednesday's Calcutta High Court guidelines directing the varsity to restore normalcy on campus.

However, the university order is being interpreted as a move that could clamp down entry of "outsiders" and limit student agitations.

Students have been demonstrating to demand removal of Vice Chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarty since Sep 17 when university authorities allegedly ordered a police crackdown to break up a peaceful sit-in for an independent investigation into the alleged molestation of a woman student inside a hostel last month.

The high cours Wednesday directed normalcy be maintained at the university and that agitating students would not block the entry of faculty members, staff and willing students into the campus. It said police outposts should be set up outside the varsity's main gate.

"In compliance with the high court order, we will be regulating entry and exit of people into the varsity from today (Thursday). Students, scholars and residents of the University have to use gate no 1, 3 and 4 for entering and leaving the campus.

"Every visitor to the campus including students will be required to display their identity cards. In addition, authorities have to be informed in advance about any 'agitation or protest or assembly" and an area inside the campus has been designated for it," Registrar Pradip Ghosh told reporters here.

According to protesting students and ex-students, the varsity's measures to control entry of outsiders will "clamp down" the freedom of the students.

"But this does not solve the underlying issue... that the authorities do not listen to us," said Antirip Sengupta, a former student who surrendered his gold medal and certificate Thursday.

During the day, Tripathi, who is also the ex-officio university chancellor, said the educational institution should not be politicised.

"As far as Jadavpur University is concerned, let the students learn and let others remain outside the campus. The trouble in Jadavpur University is being created by outsiders," Tripathi told media persons on the sidelines of a programme here.

"Let the university not be politicised. Let it be a centre of excellent education," he added.

Also, after more than a week, Vice Chancellor Chakraborty entered the campus around 12 noon, with the students resolutely sticking to their demand that he demit office.

However, the protesting students have decided not to go ahead with any act of laying seige.

"We will not prevent the vice chancellor or the registrar from entering or leaving the campus and we will not resort to gheraos," said Gitasri Sarkar, general secretary of the Arts Faculty Students' Union.

In the middle of the controversy, Jadavpur varsity authorities had a reason to cheer with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) giving the university a higher grade in the current assessment.

"We have some good news... NAAC has given us 3.68 out of 4 (percentile). Earlier it was 3.61," the registrar said.