The special branch (SB) of the Kolkata police has launched a witch-hunt against university students who were branded as “CPI(M) cadres” and “Maoists” by chief minister Mamata Banerjee when they asked her some uncomfortable questions during an interaction organised by a national television channel on Friday evening.
Many of them are students of reputed institutions, including Presidency University and Jadavpur University. They had participated in the interactive programme at the Town Hall.
Unable to give any convincing replies to their questions on Park Street rape case and JU professor Ambikesh Mahapatra’s arrests, Ms Banerjee had branded them as “CPI(M) cadres” and “Maoists” before storming out of the programme.
According to sources, the special branch called up the Kolkata office of the channel later and sought the names of the students to establish Ms Banerjee’s claims.
“Failing to get the details from the channel office, the SB officials on Saturday started collecting the students’ photographs to ascertain their political and ideological affiliation/loyalty. A list of around 10 students has been prepared,” a senior SB official revealed, adding that the youth might be questioned in the future.