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Police sources allege that Hindol Mazumdar was one of the masterminds behind the attack on Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu’s convoy at Jadavpur University
Screengrab of the protests that took place at Jadavpur University on March 1. (Image: X/@amitmalviya)
Hindol Mazumdar, a former student of pharmaceutical technology at Jadavpur University, has been detained and subsequently arrested by Kolkata Police with assistance from Delhi Police. A lookout notice had been issued against him, which led to his detention as soon as he landed in India. Police sources allege that Mazumdar was one of the masterminds behind the attack on Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu’s convoy at Jadavpur University on March 1.
Mazumdar is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Granada in Spain and was abroad at the time of the incident. Police have obtained a transit remand and will bring him to Kolkata, where he will be produced in court.
Hindol comes from a highly educated family—both his parents are retired engineering professors from Jadavpur University. Speaking exclusively to News18, his father, Chandan Majumdar, said, “We were very surprised, as we were not aware that there was a lookout notice against him. There was one case for which the police sent a notice, and he responded to it. But in the case for which he has now been arrested, we had no prior knowledge. I do not believe he would conspire to attack the Education Minister—that is nonsense. They talk about Bangali Asmita, and this is what they do? If scholars like my son are treated this way, why would the best minds return to Bengal? We will now pursue the matter legally. For this case, no notice was served to Hindol, nor did anything reach this house.”
Police sources claim they have evidence showing Mazumdar conspired in the attack and had instructed students that, “come what may, the Education Minister has to be attacked”. They also state there are chat messages substantiating his arrest.
Meanwhile, ultra-left student organisations at Jadavpur University are protesting his arrest. Indranuj Roy—who was arrested earlier in the same case—posted on social media: “Hindol Mazumdar, one of the founding members of the Democratic Youth Students’ Association (DYSA) and an alumnus of the Engineering Faculty, Jadavpur University, who is currently pursuing his PhD in Spain, was detained yesterday at Delhi Immigration and has now been arrested by Kolkata Police. He was arrested while returning home from abroad. A lookout order was issued against him by Kolkata Police during the protests following March 1… All progressive and democratic forces should unite to protest the ongoing militarisation of academia and demand his immediate, unconditional release.”
The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, has defended the arrest. A TMC spokesperson said, “Police have done the right thing. There is digital evidence against him, and the law will take its course.”
On March 1, Education Minister Bratya Basu visited Jadavpur University, where he was gheraoed, and his car was attacked.
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East…Read More
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East… Read More
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