-Mita Mukherjee

The West Bengal government on Tuesday sought a report from the vice-chancellor of state-run Aliah University regarding the video that showed the varsity VC being heckled and verbally abused by a person, identified as Giyasuddin Mondal, an expelled leader of the ruling Trinamul Congress backed student body of the university.  

The video showing Mondal, a former president of the Aliah University unit of the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad, gesticulating at and verbally abusing the vice-chancellor had rocked Bengal since Saturday after the clip went viral on social media.

Mahammed Ali, the vice-chancellor of Aliah University, under the state minority affairs department of Bengal while narrating the incident to a local TV channel said he was “mentally tortured,” “abused in filthy language” and had been threatened that he would be murdered. The VC who was seen in tears said he would not want to return to an institution where he didn’t feel safe and where there is “no respect for him.”  

A senior official of the state minority affairs department said that a detailed investigation will be conducted on the basis of the report sought from the VC and appropriate actions would be taken against those involved in harassing the VC.

The incident had taken place last Friday but Mondal was arrested on Sunday afternoon following strong protests from various circles on social media.

The VC had also alleged that the local Techno City police station had been informed about the incident on April 1 but the police had not responded to his call for help. 

 The incident has evoked strong protests from various circles including college and university teachers and sharp criticisms from intellectuals across the state had been pouring in targeting the ruling Trinamul Congress.

Visibly perturbed, Ali was heard telling the TV channel: “As a teacher I feel ashamed. I am terrified. I have no interest in Aliah. I am not feeling safe. I don’t want to go back to a place where there is no respect for me? I want to return to Jadavpur University,” Ali said.

Ali who taught chemistry at Jadavpur University (JU) a state-aided university under the state higher education department before taking over Aliah University said that he wants to return to JU.  

The man identified as Giyasuddin Mondal and his associates who had stormed into the VS’s chamber last Friday was heard telling the VC  in the video, “I usually slap hard. You can ask anyone…. I have been in jail under non-bailable sections. You have to cancel the list (shortlist for PhD). Hold your ear.”

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee told a news conference on Monday that some students might have some grievances at Aliah University and the student vwho had used some “ foul” language had been arrested. “At Aliah University, students might have some grievances. There can be discontentment among a section of students. But the student who had misbehaved has been arrested.”

Also read: Teachers’ bodies protest against heckling of Aliah varsity VC