Bengal: Locals storm Visva Bharati campus over university's decision to erect boundary wall around Poush Mela ground

Besides staging demonstrations, local traders reportedly vandalized a portion of the under-construction boundary wall, ransacked a temporary camp office inside the campus and razed the gates of Poush Mela ground with a JCB machine.

Earlier in July, following a meeting of the Executive Council (EC), the Visva Bharati university announced to scrap Poush Mela for the year claiming that the university was 'ill-equipped' to organize the event.

After the university had started the boundary wall's construction on Saturday, locals held protest outside the campus on Sunday and on Monday morning, a large number of local people, led by Dubrajpur TMC MLA Naresh Chandra Bauri and local trader-association leaders under the banner of "Poush Melar Math Bachao (Save the Poush Mela Ground) Committee", gathered in front of the campus to stage demonstration.

The mob razed a gate of Visva Bharati university with a JCB machine, entered the campus, vandalized the under-construction boundary wall and ransacked a temporary camp office inside the university premises.

Expressing his concern over the incident, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted, "Situation of law and order in Visva Bharati is alarming. Am trying to be in touch with CM to secure peace in the temple of learning. As per VC violators of law have entered campus and destroyed property. CS, HS, DM and SP have not responded to the call of Visva Bharati."

Later, the governor said that he had words with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and he had informed the CM about the incident.

"Just had word with Chief Minister over Visva Bharati worsening law and order scenario. She has assured that administration will take all steps to restore law and order. Am sure those enjoined with task will rise to the occasion," Dhankhar tweeted.

Reacting on the issue, Banerjee said that the incident was a result of anger of the locals and students over Visva Bharati university's decision of erecting boundary wall around Poush Mela ground.

"After getting information about the incident from Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, I have come to know that many outsiders were present there to protect the construction works and students as well as locals protested against it," Banerjee said during a presser at state secretariat Nabanna.

"I have directed the local DM and SP to hold meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of the Centre-run university, students and representatives from local people and traders to reach out to a peaceful settlement," she said.

"Will request the university not to make any such construction which go against the tradition, heritage, culture, history and thoughts of the iconic university and damages natural beauty as Rabindranath Tagore had founded Visva Bharati with an aim to teach students, hold festivals and do other practices on the lap of nature in an open space," Banerjee added.

Meanwhile, citing security concerns, the Visva Bharati authority has closed its campus indefinitely, till further notice.

"The Union Ministry of Education and Home Ministry have been informed about the entire incident," a source in the Visva Bharati university told IBNS.

"The mob was on rampage for more than one hour, but we got no help from the local police, even after seeking support from Birbhum SP," an official of the university alleged.

Local administration, however, denied to speak on the matter.