Tension gripped Ramkrishna Mahavidyalaya (RKM College) in Kailashahar on Wednesday after a deputation by the Tipra Motha Party’s students’ wing, Tripura Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) triggered a confrontation with ABVP supporters. The situation escalated into protests, heavy security deployment and the subsequent locking of college principal Dr Ajit Barman inside his room.
Key takeaways:
- ABVP students locked Principal Dr Ajit Barman inside his room during a protest after the TISF delegation left the college.
- TISF alleged that ABVP members prevented its delegation from entering the campus despite prior permission.
- Police, TSR and central forces were deployed as tensions rose between the two student groups.
A protest by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) students at Ramkrishna Mahavidyalaya in Kailashahar escalated on Wednesday, with college principal Dr Ajit Barman being locked inside his room for several hours.
The incident followed a confrontation between ABVP supporters and members of the Tripura Indigenous Students Federation (TISF), a student organisation backed by Tipra Motha. The TISF delegation had arrived at the college to submit a deputation concerning issues involving indigenous students.
The situation became tense as members of the two student groups faced each other on the college premises. A substantial deployment of police, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel and central forces was made at the site to prevent the situation from escalating further.
TISF Arrives With Prior Permission
According to TISF district president Anukul Debbarma, the organisation had obtained prior permission from the college authorities and the police administration before arriving at the campus.
The delegation reached the college around noon and submitted its deputation to Principal Dr Ajit Barman.
Debbarma alleged that ABVP students prevented members of the TISF delegation from entering the college premises. He further claimed that ABVP members locked the college gate and began protesting.
According to him, slogans including “Tipra Motha Go Back” were raised during the demonstration.
Police, TSR personnel and central forces then surrounded the TISF delegation. The security personnel kept the delegation protected amid the tense atmosphere.
The TISF members reportedly remained outside the college gate for around one-and-a-half hours before police escorted them through a barricaded route to the principal’s room. After the deputation was submitted, they were again escorted out of the campus.
Debbarma criticised the police and college authorities over the developments. He said the TISF delegation had come to the college peacefully after securing the necessary permissions.
He also alleged that ABVP had been creating an atmosphere of disorder at Kailashahar College for a long time and claimed that the organisation was not acting in the interests of students.
ABVP Locks Principal Inside Room
The situation changed after the TISF delegation left the college.
ABVP students entered the principal’s room and began protesting around Dr Barman. They subsequently locked the principal inside the room and continued their demonstration.
ABVP district convenor Ankan Pal alleged that NSUI and SFI members had entered the college while posing as Tipra Motha supporters. He accused them of behaving inappropriately with female ABVP students and pushing them during the confrontation.
Pal held the principal responsible for allowing the situation to develop. He argued that the confrontation could have been avoided if the college authorities had declined to accept the TISF delegation’s deputation.
The ABVP leader said the principal would remain locked inside the room until the dignity of the students who were allegedly subjected to inappropriate behaviour was restored and action was taken against those responsible.
The allegations made by the two student organisations could not be independently verified.
Damage Reported During Unrest
The confrontation also resulted in damage to parts of the college premises.
According to the account provided, the curtain stand at the main entrance of the principal’s room was broken and the curtain was torn. A similar incident reportedly occurred at the adjacent office room.
The college’s electricity connection was also reportedly disconnected during the unrest.
Despite the heightened tension, the TISF delegation did not retaliate, according to Debbarma. He said the organisation chose to remain peaceful to prevent the situation from turning violent.
He said TISF members considered themselves “soldiers of the Maharaja” and maintained that they wanted peace rather than unrest.
Principal’s Assurance Ends Protest
The ABVP protest continued until the evening.
Dr Barman subsequently held discussions with ABVP leaders and asked them to submit their demands in writing. He assured them that the demands would be forwarded to the higher authorities and that he would request appropriate action at the earliest.
Following the assurance, the principal was released from the locked room and the ABVP protest ended.
The incident, however, highlighted the heightened tension between student organisations at the Kailashahar college and prompted a significant security presence on the campus.
