Bihar: Miscreants Beat Up & Attempt To Set Professor Ablaze Over Anti-Vajpayee Post

A recent video of an angered mob attacking an assistant professor at the Mahatma Gandhi Central University of Motihari, Bihar has been circulated and shared on social media platforms. Sanjay, Assistant Professor of Sociology department, has been admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital is in a critical condition.

It is alleged that assistant professor Kumar, through his Facebook posts, had criticised the recent assassination attempt on JNU student and activist Umar Khalid. He has also posted the comment after the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying ‘Fascivaad Ka Ek Naye Yug Ki Samaapti, Atal Ji Anant Yatra Pe Nikle.’ After which he was trolled and criticised online. He started getting threats on facebook as well as on call. He also received a threat on phone call on Friday morning that he wouldn’t be spared, as reported by The Quint.

It is also being alleged that Kumar was assaulted because he was one of the most vocal staff members who had raised voice against the vice chancellor of the university.

Here is the video of attack on JNU scholar Sanjay . He was attacked by Sanghi terrorists because Sanjay was used to criticize RSS and BJP .

The goons can be heard saying "@kanhaiyakumar banega tu?"
This is the result of hateful Propaganda by Modia against JNU

3/n pic.twitter.com/Ct9JUpEhKP

— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) August 17, 2018

The Wire reported that apart from beating Sanjay up, the miscreants also attempted to set him ablaze and had even poured petrol over him.

The Indian Express has reported that in the police complaint filed by Sanjay, it was stated that he was in his room at Azad Nagar, Motihari when a group of 20-25 people led by Rahul Pandey and Aman Bihari Vajpayee attacked him and tried to lynch him. He was allegedly dragged from his room on the third floor and assaulted in broad daylight. “The assaulters kept shouting that Kumar was being punished for speaking against the VC, for posting anti-national statements on social media,” Mrityunjay Kumar, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at the university, told The Wire.

Ex JNU research scholar Sanjay Kumar(CSSS), now Assistant Professor, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar.

He was almost killed by goons. These swarna goons( name are mentioned in application) tried to lynched publicly just for having difference of opinion. pic.twitter.com/XYMebVbF4B

— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) August 17, 2018

Protest against VC

Sanjay Kumar is a member of The Motihari Central University Teachers Association group protesting against the Vice Chancellor of University Arvind Kumar Agarwal for the violation of rules and harassment of teachers since May 29. The teachers on Dharna have claimed that Agarwal has not implemented the reservation policy in the recruitment policy of non-teaching staff in the University. Moreover, they also allege that any voice of dissent is always suppressed. “The VC has slapped fake sexual harassment cases on a few teachers. We have proof to show that. On top of it, he has used intimidation tactics to get a few teachers to sign on blank papers. The VC has been threatening that he would use these papers for their resignation letters,” an assistant professor told The Wire, adding that two teachers were terminated by VC for being critical of him. This decision, however, was reversed after pressure mounted on him.

Criticism

According to the New Indian Express, Opposition leader in Bihar Assembly, RJD Leader Tejashvi Yadav harshly criticised the assault and an alleged attempt to lynch the assistant professor.

What’s this going on Mr. CM? RSS goons in direct patronage of RSS programmed VC assaulted & almost Lynched a Professor, they poured patrol to burn him alive.

Nitish Ji, Why don’t you open a RSS Shakha in CM house & be ‘सरसंघचालक’ of it?https://t.co/RwDWiIDq1n

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) August 18, 2018

National Spokesperson of RJD, Rajya Sabha MP, Manoj K Jha tweeted the letter written to Minister of HRD, Prakash Javdekar, accusing the Vice-chancellor of instigating the violence against those who go against his decisions. He also stated that a lot of lecturers have lost their jobs due to the vengeance. He also urged the Minister as assistant professor Sanjay Kumar is struggling against death in the hospital, he must initiate an unbiased inquiry into the matter and give serious punishment to the culprits and set an example, so that students and professors, as citizens of independent society can freely exchange their thoughts in the university

महात्मा गांधी केंद्रीय विश्वविद्यालय, मोतिहारी में एक प्रेरित हिंसक भीड़ द्वारा प्राध्यापक संजय कुमार पर जानलेवा हमले की निष्पक्ष जांच की आंच उनलोगों तक पहुंचनी चाहिए जिन्होंने बीते एक वर्ष से छात्रो-शिक्षकों के आन्दोलन का सिर्फ दमन किया है. @PrakashJavdekar pic.twitter.com/BHaNAoNwh2

— Manoj K Jha (@manojkjhadu) August 18, 2018

The Logical Indian Take

Indian Constitution gives all it citizen the freedom of speech and expression, but in the current scenario, we can see this freedom is curtailed. Every individual is entitled to speak his opinion, be it of anybody. There is no point in engaging in violence over a difference of opinion, no matter what nobody should be entitled to take the law into their own hands. Our constitution is meant for providing liberty, justice and equality to all.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee is known as one of the most prominent figures of Indian politics, often described as the right man in the wrong party by its opponents. The person who worked to resolve the issues with Pakistan with peace, violence on his name is not justified.

Also Read: Manipur University: Students & Teachers On Protest For Over 40 Days, Demand Resignation Of “Incompetent” V-C