Kolkata: Tension broke out at Jadavpur University (JU) campus in South Kolkata on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday over clashes between the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the CPI(M)’s students’ wing and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The tension between the two rival students’ unions erupted over the general body meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union (FETSU).

The SFI has claimed that the ABVP has been trying to take control over the JU since the formation of the new state government in West Bengal, mobilised outsiders within the university campus and resorted to vandalism.

The ABVP, on the other hand, has accused the SFI, assisted by activists of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)- affiliated Democratic Students’ Organisation (DSO), of launching an attack on the ABVP office-bearers inside the campus in the guise of a general body meeting.

Some of the students injured in the clashes are currently under treatment at the nearby K.P.C. Medical College and Hospital.

The local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Jadavpur Assembly Constituency, Sarbori Mukherjee, an actress-turned-politician, arrived at the hospital on Thursday morning to enquire about the injured students admitted there.

Both the rival groups have lodged FIRs at the local Jadavpur Police Station over the incident. At the same time, both the rival students’ wings have announced massive protest demonstrations on Thursday over the issue within the campus.

At the time the report was filed, no one had been arrested in connection with the clashes that broke out in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

According to the ABVP’s central working committee member, Subhabrata Adhikari, the attack on their office-bearers was orchestrated not just by SFI activists but also by students affiliated to other Left-wing student groups, including those having links with Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) groups.

On the other hand, SFI’s general secretary, Srijan Bhattacharya, said the SFI was nowhere to be found in the entire mess. “What I heard is that the ABVP activists aided by local BJP associates resorted to vandalism within the campus. Why is ABVP so scared to face elections and democratically take control of the students’ body in JU?” Bhattacharya questioned.

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Transport Department has initiated action to cancel or suspend the permits of around 400 auto-rickshaws allegedly used to block roads during an ongoing protest by app-based cab drivers and bike riders at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar, said an official on Thursday.

The road blockade and alleged vandalism by unruly protesters disrupted normal traffic in the area for some time in the master canteen square area on Wednesday.

Several government properties, including CRUT/Ama Bus vehicles, were reportedly damaged during the incident. Based on police records, CCTV footage and preliminary examination of seizure lists, authorities identified and seized more than 400 auto-rickshaws allegedly used to obstruct the road. The Transport Department said the use of vehicles for such illegal activities amounts to a violation of permit conditions.

Accordingly, proceedings have been initiated under Section 86(1)(b) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for suspension or cancellation of the permits. The Bhubaneswar-I RTO has issued show-cause notices to the registered owners and permit holders of the vehicles concerned.

They have been asked to provide details regarding who was in control of the vehicles during the incident and whether they were used with the owners’ permission, direction or knowledge.

The vehicle owners have been directed to submit written explanations along with the required documents within the stipulated deadline and appear before the RTO for a personal hearing. If no response is received within the prescribed period, or if the concerned persons fail to appear, the authorities may take a decision on permit suspension or cancellation based on the available records.

The Transport Department clarified that the action against the vehicle permits will not affect any separate criminal or other legal proceedings related to the incident.

On Thursday, the Commissionerate Police informed that 113 protesters have so far been arrested and forwarded to court in this case.

The Police seized 354 auto-rickshaws involved in the violent protest.

Similarly, 60 protesting online cab service drivers have been released on bond of good behaviour.

A total of seven cases have been registered in this regard at the Kharavel Nagar Police Station, said officials on Thursday.

The commissionerate police again warned that strong action will be taken against anyone taking the law into their hands. Notably, the app-based cab drivers and bike riders in Odisha have been holding protests in Bhubaneswar over several demands for the last couple of days.

However, the protest turned violent on Wednesday after the drivers staged a road blockade at bustling Master Canteen Square by keeping their auto-rickshaws on the road.

They clashed with police when the latter tried to clear the blockade by removing the vehicles. The protesters pelted stones at police and damaged some public buses at the spot.

The police later resorted to a mild baton charge to bring the situation under control.

Bhopal, Aug 19: A 35-year-old man was killed and his minor son critically injured after a speeding Innova car being driven by an inebriated youth hit several people before ramming into their scooter in Bhopal’s Kolar area, police said on Wednesday.

The accident occurred around midnight on Tuesday near Ankit Parisar when Shubham Awasthi and his son Madhav were travelling on their scooter, police said.

Kolar police station SHO, Sanjay Soni, said the 21-year-old driver was allegedly heavily intoxicated at the time of the accident.

“The driver was heavily intoxicated. Instead of applying the brakes, he mistakenly pressed the accelerator, causing the car to go out of control,” Soni said.

The speeding vehicle allegedly hit several people on the road before crashing into the scooter. The impact was so severe that the scooter was badly damaged and the father and son were thrown several metres away, police said.

According to police, the accused had borrowed the vehicle from an acquaintance to attend a party. An empty liquor bottle, another liquor bottle, disposable cups and condoms were reportedly found inside the car.

The vehicle’s airbags deployed after the collision, helping the accused escape serious injuries, police said.

The accident triggered anger among bystanders, who allegedly caught the driver and assaulted him. The crowd also damaged the vehicle.

Police reached the spot after being alerted, rescued the accused from the mob and took him into custody.

“The police team reached the spot and rescued the accused from the crowd before taking him into custody. We are examining the evidence and questioning witnesses to ascertain the circumstances that led to the accident,” Soni said.

Awasthi was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body was sent for post-mortem examination and will be handed over to his family, police said.

His son Madhav sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Police have launched an investigation into the accident and are examining the circumstances in which the accused allegedly drove the vehicle after consuming alcohol.