Tension gripped Ramakrishna Mahavidyalaya in Kailashahar on Tuesday after rival student organisations, the Tripra Indigenous Students' Federation (TISF) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), clashed over the submission of a deputation to the college principal. The confrontation created a volatile situation, prompting the deployment of a large contingent of police, TSR personnel and central security forces on the campus.
According to reports, a delegation of the Tripra Motha-backed TISF arrived at the college around noon after obtaining prior permission from both the college authorities and the police administration to submit a deputation to Principal Dr. Ajit Barman.
TISF district president Anukul Debbarma alleged that ABVP members prevented the delegation from entering the campus and locked the college gate while staging a protest. He claimed that ABVP activists raised slogans such as "Tripra Motha Go Back" and attempted to obstruct the deputation programme.
As tensions escalated, police and security personnel formed a protective cordon around the TISF delegation. After nearly one-and-a-half hours of protests outside the gate, the police escorted the delegation through barricades into the principal's office, where they submitted their memorandum. Following the deputation, the delegation was again escorted out of the campus under police protection.
Debbarma expressed strong dissatisfaction with both the police and the college authorities, alleging that ABVP activists shouted slogans and used abusive language against TISF members in the presence of law enforcement. He further accused ABVP of creating an atmosphere of intimidation on the campus for a long time and failing to work in the interest of students.
He said that despite obtaining prior permission for the deputation, the obstruction reflected a lack of democratic space. Debbarma also claimed that TISF deliberately refrained from retaliating to avoid violence, stating that "TISF stands for peace and not confrontation."
After the TISF delegation left the campus, ABVP members entered the principal's office, surrounded Dr. Ajit Barman and staged a protest. They subsequently locked the principal inside his office, demanding action over the day's incidents.
ABVP district convener Ankan Pal alleged that workers of the NSUI and SFI had entered the campus posing as Tripra Motha supporters and behaved indecently with female ABVP students while also pushing them during the confrontation. He blamed the principal for accepting the TISF deputation, claiming that the situation would not have arisen otherwise.
Pal said the principal would remain confined until action was initiated against those allegedly involved in the misconduct with female students and their dignity was restored.
During the unrest, unidentified persons allegedly damaged property inside the college. Curtain stands at the principal's office and an adjacent office room were reportedly broken, curtains were torn, and the electricity supply to the college was temporarily disconnected.
The standoff ended in the evening after Principal Dr. Ajit Barman assured the protesting ABVP leaders that they could submit their demands in writing. He promised to forward the memorandum to the higher authorities and recommend that appropriate action be taken at the earliest.
Following the assurance, ABVP called off its agitation and released the principal, bringing the day's protest to an end.