19-year-old student killed in alleged police firing in Bengal’s North Dinajpur, BJP calls for bandh
A 19-year-old student of polytechnic college was killed and about a dozen were injured following a clash between police and students in West Bengal’s North Dinajpore district on Thursday.
The incident happened on Thursday at Darivit High School at Islampur in North Dinajpore district. The victim has been identified as 19-year-old Rajesh Sarkar. He was a former student of the school. BJP has called a 12-hour bandh on Friday protesting against the death.
Sources said that after three new teachers were appointed at the school, a group of students put up a protest saying that they had demanded teachers of literature and science subjects and teachers who were proficient in imparting education in Bengali medium. The new teachers were of Urdu and Sanskrit.
When they tried to enter the school they were confronted by agitating students who had blocked the road in front of the main gate of the school. Formers students of the school and area locals had also joined the agitation. Police arrived to control the situation and when students did not lift the bandh police opened lathicharge. Agitating students retaliated by pelting stones at policemen. Several police persons were injured and police vehicles were damaged.
Police shot tear gas shells and rubber bullets. Of those who were taken to Islampur Hospital, Sarkar was declared brought dead. Hospital sources said that he had sustained bullet injury. Ten others who had been admitted with injuries included police personnel. One, who was critical has been shifted to a Siliguri hospital.
District police superintendent Sumit Kumar said, “Our men fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Protestors pelted stones and our men were injured and police vehicles were vandalised.”
District BJP president Shankar Chakraborty maintained that Sarkar had died of policed bullet. “Police first opened a lathi charge, then fired tear gas shells and finally bullets. This is atrocious,” he said.
CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty said, “It is natural that students will protest. Why did the police open fire at school students? Chief Minister should answer why her cops are so trigger-happy.”
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