Kolkata: Tension has gripped the city after a group of students from the University of Calcutta were attacked in the Sealdah area. The students said they were assaulted by shopkeepers who accused them of being “Bangladeshi” and targeted them for speaking in Bengali.
The incident took place near the main bridge adjoining Sealdah station on Wednesday night. According to the complaint, a student had gone with friends to purchase mobile accessories from local shops owned by non-Bengali traders. A dispute broke out over prices, after which the shopkeepers allegedly hurled slurs, calling the students “Bangladeshi” and “Bengali”. The altercation escalated when the traders reportedly attacked the students with sharp weapons.
The injured students were admitted to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. They later filed a written complaint at Muchipara Police Station. Acting on the complaint, the police arrested two traders identified as Deepak Kumar Sau and Imtiyaz Ali. Officials confirmed that the students’ statements have been recorded and an investigation is underway.
Student groups and local organizations reacted sharply to the attack. Borgo Chattopadhyay, General Secretary of Bangla Pokkho, a Bengali nationalist outfit, visited the site late Wednesday night. He posted about the incident on social media, which quickly drew widespread attention. Chattopadhyay demanded strict action against those responsible.
Reports suggest that assaults and harassment of Bengalis in different parts of India have increased in recent months, especially against migrant workers. While such attacks had not been widely reported in Kolkata until now, the latest incident has raised concerns of communal and linguistic tensions in the city.
Kolkata Police said they are closely monitoring the situation. The state administration has expressed concern that the attack could affect law and order if not addressed promptly.
The arrests have somewhat calmed the immediate tension, but students and community groups insist that the issue is larger than a single incident. They argue that targeting people for speaking Bengali is unacceptable and threatens the city’s social fabric. Authorities face growing pressure to ensure safety for all linguistic communities and prevent such confrontations in the future.
