Principal gheraoed by TMCP supporters over demands to admit more students

The principal of Sri Gopal Banerjee College at Mogra in Hooghly district was allegedly gheraoed by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad supporters on Thursday demanding intake of more students in the first year even after completion of the admission process. Subrata Mondal, who is the principal of the college, was detained inside his room since late afternoon as the students shouted slogans demanding that 109 more students should be admitted in the Arts stream. He was brought out of the college late on Thursday night by a team from the Mogra police station.

A student leader of the TMCP claimed that the students seeking admission has spoken to Burdwan University authorities under which the college is affiliated and the latter had said that these students can be admitted if the principal of the college writes to the university. When questioned how these students can seek admission when the seats have already been full with the admission process closing a few days back, the student leaders said: "Some students who had been admitted in the Science stream have left for other colleges thereby vacating a number of seats. These 109 students can be accommodated against these vacancies."

TMCP general secretary of the college Krishna Sau alleged that the principal of the college has taken no steps for the admission of these students in spite of repeated requests and had said that the matter will be taken up in the college's governing committee meeting. "The classes will start by then. Why is he not sending a letter to Burdwan University when the latter had said that they will look into the matter. The career of these students are being jeopardised because of the stubborn attitude of the principal," he added.

Mondal, who had fallen sick after the gherao, said that he had written to the university but there has been no response.