Police and supporters of the student bodies in front of the college in Jalpaiguri on Thursday. (Biplab Basak)

Siliguri, Jan. 7: A Chhatra Parishad member of Jalpaiguri’s Prasannadeb Women’s College has been hospitalised after she was attacked today allegedly by SFI supporters over the collection of nomination forms for the student union election.

The CP has announced a strike in the college tomorrow. The election to 70 seats in the institution is slated for January 16. Currently, the SFI is in control of the union.

Around 12 noon, Riha Bhowmik, a second-year student of philosophy, was attacked when she picked up a nomination form. “She was assaulted so badly that she lost consciousness. The SFI supporters dragged her to a room and kept her confined there. Three other students who went to her rescue were also beaten up,” said Souvik Bhowmik, the Jalpaiguri Town secretary of the CP. Soon, a heated altercation between the two rival groups began. Santi Chhetri, the principal, called police who brought the situation under control.

Riha has been admitted to Jalpaiguri District Hospital.

As the news spread, CP supporters assembled and ransacked the gatekeeper’s room. SFI members also reached the spot and a war of words began. Deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) P.K. Dutta and inspector-in-charge of Kotwali police station Rajib Bhattacharya stopped them.

The CP members then entered the campus and along with the students gheraoed the principal. “We want the college authorities either to cancel the election process as today was the last day for collection of nomination forms or to extend the date,” Bhowmik. The CP could collect only four nominations.

The gherao that began around 4pm was lifted after an hour following an assurance of discussion by the principal. “We came to know that one student was assaulted. Discussion is on with the student unions,” Chhetri said.

However, the CP members gheraoed the principal again around 5.45pm after she reportedly refused to accept any of their demands. Santanu Mukherjee, the subdivisional officer of Jalpaiguri, who reached the spot with additional force, however, succeeded in persuading the protesters to withdraw the agitation at 7.45pm.

The principal said a three-member committee would be formed to decide on the election issue and submit a report on today’s incident within three days.

The SFI has refuted the charges. “The allegation against us is baseless. Instead, the CP members have organised attack on our supporters while we were busy collecting nomination forms,” said Ruma Dey, the general secretary of the student union. Subhasish Das, the Jalpaiguri district secretary, alleged that one of their supporters was injured by stones thrown by the CP member.