Kolkata: Jadavpur University on Monday expressed concern over a violent clash between two student groups that left two teachers, who tried to intervene, and several students injured.

Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya said an inquiry committee was being constituted to probe the February 20 incident and assured strict disciplinary action against those found responsible.

The teachers were hurt while attempting to defuse tension between members of Students' Federation of India (SFI) and We The Independent (WTI) on campus.

Condemning the assault on faculty members as “utterly unacceptable”, Bhattacharya said physical attacks on teachers by students of the same university were “highly condemnable, unacceptable and unimaginable” and ran contrary to the institution's long-standing values of respect, dialogue and the teacher-student relationship.

Appealing for calm, the administration urged students to exercise restraint, avoid provocation and engage in peaceful and democratic academic processes. Reiterating the university's legacy as a space for intellectual freedom and constructive debate, the VC called upon all stakeholders to maintain a safe and conducive campus environment.

In a related development, the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) convened an emergency general body meeting to protest the assaults and what it termed a deterioration of the academic atmosphere.

JUTA president Partha Pratim Biswas and general secretary Partha Pratim Roy expressed concern over the “deplorable” financial condition of the university and an acute shortage of teachers and staff.

According to JUTA, clashes broke out near the Science and Arts buildings, where 12 to 15 teachers intervened. The association alleged that some students and outsiders later joined the violence, and that Professors Rajyeshwar Sinha and Lalit Mahakudh were assaulted. Both were hospitalised and later discharged.

JUTA further alleged instances of alcohol and drug consumption on campus and urged authorities to take preventive measures.