Clashes Over Film Screening at Jadavpur University, Girls 'Molested'

News18

Prema Ra

© Provided by IBNLive ABVP supporters clash with students during their agitation against screening of 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam' in Jadavpur University. (PTI)

Kolkata: Kolkata Police detained four ABVP supporters on Friday night after clashes broke out between them and Left wing supporters of Jadavpur University.

The fracas began after the screening of Vivek Agnihotri-directed political film 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam' ended, and students from ABVP fought with activists of Left-backed student unions in which a few of them received minor injuries.

Agnihotri faced black flags at the campus gates, sloganeering and placards bearing message that asked him to leave.

The filmmaker claimed he was "manhandled and gheraoed" by some students and even the glass pane of his car was left shattered in the commotion.

The agitating students said they have nothing against the screening of the film, but were protesting against the "divisive content" in it, which also stars Anupam Kher.

"We all know Kher's views in the whole debate on whatever happened in JNU. He is acting in this film which has divisive content. We are protesting against that," Sounak Mukherjee, a first year MA student of English Department, said.

Some girl students were allegedly molested during the melee that ensued after the incident, police said.

"The students had isolated four of them inside the campus following the incident. I have handed them to the police. There were some outsiders also. The students said they molested some girls," University Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das said.

BJP leader Roopa Ganguly also rushed to the campus but was stopped at the gate by the police.

(With inputs from PTI)