Criminal Assault on Republic Bangla Crew By Jadavpur University Students, Will Mamata Wake Up or Endorse?

Kolkata: Attack on press freedom was on a full brazen display inside the Jadavpur University on Thursday after Republic Bangla crew including reporters and cameramen were forcefully manhandled and attacked by the students and some members of the security. The students turned unruly when Republic Bangla team confronted them and asked questions on the anti-national graffiti displayed on the campus walls.

As a goon-like behaviour was at full glory at the Jadavpur University when Republic Bangla journalists were heckled, bullied and pushed, the big question here is, Will Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wake up or endorse this criminal assault on press freedom in her state.

The ambush against Republic Bangla crew and its nationalism exposed how Mamata's Bengal has given a freeplay to attack the media.

The Jadavpur University is no private land of impunity and this anarchic hooliganism, anti-national and urban naxal conduct won't back down Republic because the nation comes first.

The Jadavpur University which has been the hotbed of intellectual hooliganism emerged a one for physical assault too as media's right to report was attacked, exposing that lawlessness rules in Mamata's Bengal.

How Jadavpur University students heckled Republic Bangla crew?  

Republic Bangla was doing its work since March 1 in the campus where it had shown indefinite times the anti-national slogans imprinted on their walls and this is the reason why students of the Jadavpur University were scared.

When one of the Republic Bangla reporters was heading towards her vehicle after completing the work, the male students of the Jadavpur University held her, heckled, eve-teased and called her a ‘dalal’.

When Republic Bangla raised the matter, they told us not to shoot them. The students heckled Republic Bangla's video journalist and asked to delete the footages. When Republic questioned the students if they were anti-national, they (students) failed to answer and started attacking on Republic crew while the reporters were locked inside the registrar room.

Complete hooliganism, use of force against Republic Bangla, says Arnab  

Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami , speaking at this entire episode, said that the Jadavpur University has been turned into a den of certain leftist unions who along with Trinamool Congress have created an environment where no one can enter the campus and ask a single question.

“What you're seeing is complete hooliganism and the use of force against Republic Bangla reporters inside the Jadavpur University campus. The point is very clear—Jadavpur has been turned into a den of certain leftist unions. These unions, along with the Trinamool Congress, have created an environment where no one can enter the campus and ask a single question. If you ask questions, they attack you,” Arnab said.

“Today, our reporters were attacked and physically beaten. Male students assaulted female Republic Bangla reporters inside the campus. This happened before our very eyes. Hridita and Pinky were simply reporting when they were confronted, physically assaulted, and then illegally detained by the Jadavpur University registrar in his office. Despite this, there was no police protection,” Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief added.

"These students have gone all out in an act of complete hooliganism and gundaism against Republic Bangla’s reporting team. They call us "dalals" (agents), but the truth is that these student unions are the real dalals—serving foreign interests and imperialist forces while pretending to fight against them," Arnab said.

Continuing further, Arnab added, “We have decided not to leave the campus. If we leave, it would imply that we accept this lawlessness. We are standing our ground. We have multiple cameras and reporting teams inside Jadavpur University. We will not be stopped, held back, or intimidated. The campus does not belong to these hooligans, these goons, or those who support divisive forces.”

Under Mamata Banerjee’s watch, the media is being attacked. She is anti-media, anti-democratic, and dictatorial. She wants to create an atmosphere of fear, where journalists are silenced. But Republic Bangla will not be silenced. These attackers stand for nothing. They can only try to beat up our reporters, but we will not back down, Arnab said.