Police injured as TMCP-SFI protest turns violent in Barasat College

Barasat College in North 24 Parganas became the site of a violent clash on Tuesday as members of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) engaged in a heated confrontation. The situation escalated into a fierce fight, resulting in injuries to students and police officers who attempted to intervene.

The altercation unfolded when SFI students gathered outside Barasat College as part of their state-wide protests. The protest demanded justice for the RG Kar Medical College victim and questioned the bail granted to Sandeep Ghosh. In response, TMCP students reportedly shut the college gate and began counter-protests, leading to verbal spats that quickly escalated into physical violence.

Amid the chaos, stones and bricks were allegedly thrown, further aggravating tensions. TMCP members accused SFI protesters of pelting stones, while SFI claimed that TMCP was inciting violence and blocking democratic protests.

The violence also resulted in injuries to police officers who attempted to intervene. According to reports, one officer suffered a broken tooth during the altercation. The police eventually restored order after a significant effort.

TMCP members alleged that SFI had resorted to "hooliganism," pointing to bricks and stones found within the college premises. One TMCP representative remarked, "Only SFI can resort to such violent means. We closed the college gate to prevent any disruptions, but they attacked us."

On the other hand, SFI leaders accused TMCP of stalling the democratic process by delaying student elections. “For years, elections have not been held in colleges, and TMCP’s influence has become synonymous with hooliganism,” an SFI spokesperson claimed.

Both factions, however, agreed on demanding justice for the victim of RG Kar Medical College, but their methods and ideologies remained sharply opposed. The administration of Barasat College has called for an investigation into the incident and urged students to maintain peace.