Jadavpur University: Gherao of VC forcibly lifted, 35 students held

The Jadavpur University Vice Chancellor and Registrar, who were gheraoed by students demanding a fresh probe panel on alleged sexual harassment of a girl student inside the campus, were freed in the wee hours today by a strong contingent of police force which arrested 35 students.

The police force managed to lift the gherao of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar Pradip Ghosh.

There was a scuffle between the police and students but no no report of injury was reported during the police action, police said.

Soon after the gherao was lifted, the students gheraoed the nearby Jadavpur Police station demanding release of their classmates.

Tension ran high in the campus and surrounding S C Mallick Road area as the students assembled in large number before the police station, disrupting traffic.

Police have given deadline till 10:30 AM to the students for lifting the gherao, Kolkata Police Headquarters said.

The students were protesting the molestation of a woman on the campus two weeks ago.

The VC and Registrar, meanwhile, said that authorities were ready to sit for a discussion with the agitating students for ending the impasse.

Students union leaders said they would hold talks to chalk out fresh course of action but threatened that the agitation will continue till the authorities apologised for bringing in police inside the campus and the alleged use of force to "break a democratic movement."