Teacher recruitment row: Another student killed in Islampur clash
Darjeeling: Another student succumbed to bullet injuries in the wee hours of Friday in the unrest that had taken place over the recruitment of teachers in a school in Islampur in North Dinajpur.
The Superintendent of Police, North Dinajpur, on Friday declared that police had not resorted to firing in the incident and it was the outsiders who had mingled with the students, pelted stones, hurled bombs and even fired. Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Tapash Burman (20 years) succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours of Friday morning in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. He was a former student of Daribhit High School and was studying in third year at Islampur College.
Incidentally, the students of Daribhit School were protesting against the appointment of Sanskrit and Urdu teachers in the school, demanding other subject teachers to be appointed instead. On Thursday, when the two teachers arrived at the school premises, the students started protesting. A large police contingent arrived to quell the clashes that took place. In the clashes, both the protestors and students suffered injuries. One Rajesh Sarkar (19), a former student of the school and first year student at Islampur College, died on Thursday evening from an alleged bullet injury. As the news of Burman's death surfaced, locals vandalized the school building and even torched furniture inside the school building.
The BJP called for a 12-day bandh in Raigunj, the district head quarters. The bandh evoked mixed responses. The BJP supporters vandalized four state government buses and two bikes. There was heavy police and RAF deployment. The Chief Minister, who is on a business tour of Europe, has been keeping a close tab on the situation and even had a telephonic conversation with the District Magistrate. Sumit Kumar, Superintendent of Police, North Dinajpur talking to media persons on Friday evening stated: "The police had not resorted to firing on Thursday." He stated that there was tension in school since the past few days over the recruitment of teachers. "On Thursday too, the students were agitating and even gheraoed the school when a police team had arrived to bring out a teacher who had suddenly fallen ill. When the police were escorting the teacher, they were attacked. Outsiders had infiltrated in the student group and started pelting stones, hurling bombs and even firing. It was a well-chalked out plan," stated the SP. He further stated that 14 personnel were injured and a constable, Parimal Adhikari, had even sustained bullet injuries and is admitted to Islampur Hospital. The seven persons arrested are being interrogated.
"When the police were attacked we used minimum force and non lethal weapons," claimed Kumar. Majority of the arrested owe allegiance to the BJP party. The parents of the deceased have demanded that the culprits be brought to book.
State Education minister Partha Chatterjee, who is heading the group of ministers in absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, blamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha for fomenting trouble that led to the violence.
"We are certain that RSS had a role in Thursday's trouble," Chatterjee said. He blamed the district inspector of schools Rabindra Kumar Mondal, who had first informed students that Urdu teachers would not be recruited but later went ahead with the appointments keeping the administration in dark. "We have put him under immediate suspension," he added.
The minister reiterated that the guilty would not be spared. "It seems that the entire incident was pre-planned. The role of the headmaster of the school is also being examined," he maintained.
