Third arrest made in Jadavpur University arson case

A student from Jadavpur University (JU) was arrested on Tuesday for his involvement in an arson case from March 1. This marks the third arrest linked to the incident, which took place at a Trinamool-supported office on campus. Following the arrest, students protested outside the Jadavpur police station. Sauptik Chandra, a second-year civil engineering student, was taken into custody shortly after fellow student Soumyadeep Mahato was granted bail. Mahato, who is studying philosophy, had spent five days in police custody for the arson case and was immediately re-arrested for graffiti related to ‘Azad Kashmir’ on campus. Earlier on Tuesday, the police summoned 16 students for questioning, but only two, including Chandra, appeared. Following Chandra's arrest, students protested, claiming harassment and unjust charges. Police allege that Chandra is linked to a student group, while his fellow students insist he is part of the engineering students' union. They cited video evidence of his involvement in the arson. The protest, which started around 3:30 PM, grew larger as the evening progressed, affecting traffic near the police station. Concerns also rose in Alipore court when Mahato was presented there. The public prosecutor sought his immediate arrest for the graffiti case, which carries serious charges. However, the court granted him bail due to his upcoming exams. As tensions rise on campus, some faculty members urge the police to handle the situation sensitively. Others strongly criticize the police actions, calling them a witch-hunt and alleging that legitimate complaints are being ignored. They argue that the police responses seem aimed at silencing student voices rather than addressing underlying issues.