'Attack on democracy': Presidency students' union on Assam

The Presidency University Students' Union on Saturday expressed concern over the arrest of Souradeep Sengupta, a former student, for posting alleged derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

The union, controlled by the CPI(M)-backed SFI, said protests will be held on the campus and the College Street area against the arrest of Sengupta, currently a guest lecturer at the Gurucharan College in Assam's Silchar.

Sengupta was arrested from his residence by the Assam Police in the Itkhola area on Friday night after a case was lodged against him based on a complaint filed by a student of the Silchar college, they said.

He also allegedly targeted a particular community in his Facebook post, which his family said was later deleted. They said he subsequently posted an apology on the social media website for the comments.

Sengupta, while pursuing Bsc at the premier institute, was the assistant general secretary of the students' union.

"We consider this arrest as another attack on democracy and the Constitution and thereby ask his immediate and unconditional release," the students' union said.

Charges of malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, promoting enmity between different groups and criminal intimidation, among others, have been brought against Sengupta, police said.