The University College of Science and Technology at Rajabazar didn’t look any different on Thursday. Only a poster hinted at the storm brewing over the arrest of chemical engineering professor Kaushik Ganguly of the college. It condemned his arrest for human rights violation. A day before Ganguly appears in court, the college student body, Chattro Sangha, demanded speedy disposal of the case and action against policemen who allegedly violated human rights during the arrest ‘‘without warrants and for thrashing them the same night’’. Sangha general-secretary Indranil Banerjee said he was ‘‘waiting for the court’s ruling tomorrow’’. Opp demands judicial inquiry KOLKATA: The entire Opposition walked out of the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday protesting against the Speaker’s refusal to admit adjournment motions on alleged police excesses in curbing PWG militancy in the state. The Trinamool Congress, Congress and SUCI demanded a judicial inquiry into Abhijit Sinha’s suicide. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday visited Sinha’s house to offer condolences to the family. Later, she demanded an inquiry into Sinha’s death. (PTI) Ganguly’s colleagues said police violated his rights when they raided his house late at night. A senior college professor said: ‘‘He was a professor. He could have been easily summoned to the local police station. Instead, they raided his house when he was neither absconding nor underground.’’ For the chemical engineering department head, Professor S.S. Pal, ‘‘it’s unbelievable the way the police rounded him up saying he’s being taken away for interrogation’’. The complaint filed by Ganguly’s family and Tinku Ghosh, 26, with the State Human Rights Commission says: ‘‘No arrest memo was shown to the family members nor any reason of arrest was given.’’ People’s Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL) said the police didn’t produce Central Excise Department official Abhijit Sinha, who was arrested the same night as Ganguly, or any other accused within 24 hours of arrest. ‘‘They were produced much later, on July 6 noon,’’ says the complaint with the WBHRC. Sinha killed himself on Sunday. PUCL said according to law, Ganguly should have been produced at the nearest Subjudicial Magistrate’s Court, either in Barrackpore or Barasat in 24-Parganas. Instead, he was taken to Salboni in West Midnapore. Ganguly’s brother Souvik alleged the police delayed medical attention for Ganguly, Ghosh and the others. He said: ‘‘The first treatment Ganguly received at the hands of family members was when we were allowed to see him in Salboni on Sunday, over 48 hours late.’’ PUCL state coordinator Ajoy Dutta alleged: ‘‘The police didn’t have any specific charges against them. Otherwise they would have got warrants issued.’’
