Kalyani, September 19: At least 32 students from the College of Medicine and JNM Hospital in Kalyani, Nadia, have lodged serious allegations against over a dozen Trinamool Congress-backed student union leaders and class representatives accusing them of ‘threat culture’, imposing arbitrary rules, and running a syndicate with the tacit support of a section of the college administration.
In a joint petition submitted via email, the students have appealed to the college principal for help in dismantling this “culture of threats” and have requested the formation of a general students’ body through fair elections to address concerns about safety and security on campus.
College principal Manidip Pal, alarmed by the accusations, has referred the matter to the institution’s anti-ragging committee. The committee has summoned the 13 accused and the complainants for a hearing scheduled for Thursday on campus.
“The allegations are disturbing, and the nature of the complaints is akin to ragging. Thus, the issue has been forwarded to the anti-ragging committee for further action,” Pal, who also serves on the committee, told The NfN.
This incident has resurfaced concerns about the “threat culture” that has come to light following the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Calcutta. Junior doctors at RG Kar have repeatedly demanded safer campuses and workplaces for medical students and doctors. One of their key demands, raised during recent protests, is the elimination of this pervasive culture of intimidation. This issue was discussed in a meeting between the junior doctors and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on September 16, though no resolution was reached. The state government’s proposed task force was met with skepticism by the protesting doctors, who demanded a thorough crackdown on those responsible for perpetuating the toxic environment in government medical facilities.
“It’s the same kind of intimidation tactics at our college,” said one of the petitioners from the College of Medicine and JNM Hospital. “Ruling party-backed senior students and class representatives have made life unbearable for us. We’ve urged the administration to put an end to this, as our seniors at RG Kar have highlighted.”
The students’ petition specifically names senior students and leaders from the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad, including Abdul Alim Biswas, Sheikh Mohammad Akhil, Bichitra Kanti Bala, and at least 10 class representatives. They allege these individuals have instilled a reign of terror, threatening students with academic failure if they do not comply with their demands and instructions.
“It’s become impossible to study here due to the constant intimidation by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad leaders. They try to control everything, from where we sit to what we eat,” said another student.
The petition also claims that students were forced to write letters to Swasthya Bhawan in support of former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh, Avik De, Birupakshya Biswas, and other members of what they describe as a “syndicate.”
“It was against our will but they forced us to write to support them”, a trainee doctor said.
A significant portion of the intimidation, according to the students, revolves around examinations. The seating arrangements during exams, they allege, are controlled by handpicked class representatives who reserve the best seats for themselves and their allies.
The petition further accuses the union leaders of flouting college rules, including barring first-year students from entering the central library, significantly hampering their studies.
“We were not allowed to enter and issue books from the central library premises in the 1st year which severely hampered our education. If anybody was seen he was threatened”, complainants wrote in the mail.
Students also allege they are forced to eat at specific canteens despite poor food quality, and that some union leaders have installed air-conditioning in their rooms with administrative support, while others are denied permission to use basic electronic gadgets.
Despite widespread knowledge of these issues, many students previously lacked the courage to come forward due to fears of academic retaliation, according to sources at the college.
Repeated calls for comment to senior TMCP leader Abdul Alim Biswas and other accused individuals went unanswered.
Principal Manidip Pal said, “The complaints will be heard following the anti-ragging committee’s protocol, and appropriate actions will be taken based on its recommendations.”