Students Pledge News – On August 17, anti-fee hike student protestors were brutally attacked by the police administration, backed by the ruling political party. This heinous incident happened inside the Haldibari College in Cooch Behar district on August 17 when students were peacefully protesting under the leadership of AIDSO against fee hike. Demanding exemplary punishment of the accused police officer a procession reached the SP office in a peaceful manner, suddenly police again attacked the unarmed student activists. The students were pulled by their clothes, verbally abused, and mercilessly lathi-charged. Girl activists were also not spared. Girl students were even attacked by male police! The police dragged the students and AIDSO workers into the car in a very aggressive manner.
False cases have been framed against 13 students under multiple non-bailable sections including terrorist activities, harassment of women. The tragedy is, even the court has ordered to send students to jail for 10 days!
Sourav Ghosh, General Secretary of AIDSO (All India Democratic Students’ Organisation) said – “AIDSO appeals to all the democratic minded citizens of the country, to speak up against this heinous & demonic attack by the police and implicating the anti-fee hike protestors under non-bailable cases. The people of India have deep respect for the movements led by AIDSO because they are always legitimate and dignified. In the long history of students’ movement in our country, the AIDSO is held in high esteem because it always fights against injustice with justified demands and never indulges in any unethical practices. Its deplorable that in order dissuade the students from joining the anti-fee hike protest, the government has falsely implicated the students under terrorist activities. The police administration has registered multiple non-bailable cases against our workers for indecent behaviour on women and creating terror. This police complaint is aimed, encouraged and supported by the ruling party. This role of the administration towards a just democratic movement is nothing but state repression. This role of the police administration and ruthless attack on the democratic students’ movement, is being condemned by the people of entire state. We are appealing to all students, teachers, and guardians, people of all professions to join the anti-fee hike students’ movement and also protest the police repression in Coochbehar. We are appealing to your conscience and raise your voice against this brutality”
