Campus poll clash & strike

TT, Jan. 16: BJP leaders in Malda, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri have announced a 12-hour general strike in their districts tomorrow in protest against alleged attacks by Trinamul Chhatra Parishad activists on Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad supporters during the nomination process ahead of the students' union polls.

The strike call in Malda is across the district, but in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, the BJP has called the strike only in some places.

In Bagdogra College, supporters of ABVP and Chhatra Parishad clashed with TMCP supporters today on the second and final day of submission of nomination forms.

According to leaders of ABVP, TMCP supporters attacked them and tore some of their forms.

Chhatra Parishad supporters also alleged an attack on their supporters by the TMCP. There are 51 seats in Bagdogra College. The TMCP had won the college union last year.

Students' union elections of six colleges - Bagdogra College, Siliguri College, Naxalbari College, Munshi Prem Chand College, Surya Sen College and Siliguri Women's College - are scheduled for January 29. The date for withdrawal of nominations is tomorrow.

TMCP leaders accused the police of bias and said that seven supporters and Nirnay Roy, the Darjeeling district president of the TMCP, were injured.

A clash also broke out between the TMCP and the SFI at Gazole College in Malda today.

TMCP supporters alleged that the SFI burnt their festoons and flags when they reached the college today. They also allegedly tried to stop the principal from entering the college. The police then brought situation under control. However, at 1pm, when SFI supporters reached the college to submit nominations, there was another clash.

With violence being reported in two colleges, BJP leaders of Malda, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts alleged that TMCP supporters and Trinamul leaders had stopped their candidates from filing nominations in different colleges of these districts.

While the leaders in Malda announced a 12-hour general strike across the district tomorrow, leaders in Alipurduar have called the strike in four blocks, namely Birpara-Madarihat, Kalchini, Kumargram and Falakata.

In Jalpaiguri, Dipen Pramanik, the district BJP president, said the party would observe a 12-hour strike in Malbazar, Metelli, Nagrakata, Dhupguri and Mainaguri blocks tomorrow to protest the alleged attacks by the TMCP.

The strike by the BJP in North Dinajpur today to protest the alleged attacks by TMCP in various colleges in the district yesterday was peaceful.