Kolkata Professors Condemn Arrest of Students Protesting for Justice
Kolkata: On Friday, October 11, two prominent professors’ organizations voiced their strong condemnation of the recent arrest of nine students who demonstrated near a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The students were advocating for justice in the tragic case involving the rape and murder of a doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
In separate statements, the Jadavpur University Teachers Association (JUTA) and the All Bengal University Teachers’ Association (ABUTA) called upon the people of West Bengal to support the arrested students and the junior doctors who are currently on a hunger strike, protesting against the deteriorating state of the healthcare system.
The nine students, several of whom are affiliated with Jadavpur University, were apprehended near the Tridhara Sammilani Durga Puja pandal on Wednesday evening while distributing leaflets and chanting slogans demanding justice for the deceased doctor.
“We strongly condemn the arrest of our dear students who were peacefully protesting and seeking justice,” stated JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy. “They only wanted a fair investigation into the rape and murder of the doctor and the arrest of all those involved. They had every right to demonstrate.”
Echoing these sentiments, ABUTA general secretary Goutam Maity criticized the state government for failing to address the “just demands” of the junior doctors, urging immediate action to support their cause.
Following their arrest, the nine students were remanded to police custody by a court on Thursday. Authorities claimed that the students were associated with a pro-Naxal outfit, a characterization that has raised concerns among supporters and advocates for free expression.
As the situation unfolds, the call for justice and systemic reforms within the healthcare sector continues to resonate among students, faculty, and the broader community in Kolkata.
