Student beaten to death in Bengal college

A student was beaten to death inside a college in West Bengal on Friday allegedly during a clash between two groups of students.

The incident took place at Sabang Sajanikanta Mahavidyalaya in West Midnapore district. Krishna Prasad Jana, a BA student, succumbed to injuries while being taken to hospital.

The student's friend said he was hit with iron rods and sticks during the clash.

Describing the incident as "sad and shameful", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said police have been asked to take "strict action".

Banerjee claimed the incident happened as a result of a clash at the union room run by the Congress-affiliated Chhatra Parishad, while Congress leader Manas Bhuniya held the Trinamool Congress backed Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) responsible for the fatal attack on Jana.

However, the chief minister hinted at factional feuds within the Chhatra Parishad as the cause of the violence.

"The incident happened inside the union room. The union is run by the Chhatra Parishad and not by the TMCP. The victim was hit with a bat during the scuffle," she said.

Bhuniya, a former state minister and legislator from Sabong, alleged that TMCP backed "miscreants" had attacked the Chhatra Parishad supporters that led to Chhatra Parishad activist Jana's death.

Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said: "It is the result of a factional fight. He lost his life during the scuffle. My information says the victim was not a college student right now."

A Chhatra Parishad activist told reporters that the TMCP leaders wanted to felicitate visiting West Bengal minister Soumen Kumar Mahapatra.

However, a dispute arose between the two groups over this. Mahapatra and TMCP leaders denied the charges.

After the incident, irate Chhatra Parishad members allegedly locked principal Kanailal Padia in his room and blocked the National Highway at Sabong.

"I was under lock and key. Students' unions are linked to this incident. They brought the news. The student expired. I cannot say which student union the perpetrators belong to. I have asked police to take steps," Padia said.

The Chhatra Parishad has called a statewide students' strike on Saturday.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) backed Students' Federation of India has also called a strike in schools and colleges and decided to observe Saturday as a "condemnation day".

Academicians and political parties have condemned the incident.

"I feel ashamed. My heart goes out to the family of the deceased. The incident is very painful. It is a black day," said former vice chancellor of Vidyasagar University Anandadeb Mukerjee.

"Student murdered in campus by TMC (Trinamool) goons. Join statewide protest 2moro agnst barbarism," tweeted state CPI-M secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra.