Muslim college vice principal 'forced' to resign after 23-hour confinement in India

A Muslim vice principal and teacher-in-charge at Surendranath College in Kolkata, West Bengal, was allegedly confined for nearly 23 hours and forced to sign a resignation letter by students affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

According to an Indian newspaper, the students surrounded vice principal Mohammadi Tarannum and confined her to her office for around 23 hours. The students reportedly arrived with a resignation letter and allegedly pressured her into signing it.

After Mohammadi Tarannum left, the group of students reportedly entered her office, lit incense sticks and sprinkled Gangajal inside.

Immediately after leaving the students’ confinement, Tarannum emailed senior authorities, stating that she had been pressured into signing the resignation letter.

The dispute reportedly stemmed from student absenteeism. Law students are required to maintain at least 65 percent attendance to be eligible to sit for examinations, while many students had reportedly failed to meet the requirement.

The higher education authorities have yet to clarify whether Mohammadi Tarannum’s resignation has been formally accepted.