75-Year-Old Law Student Alleges Harassment, Medical Neglect at Jirania Law College, Seeks FIR and Immediate Police Action
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, August 20, 2026
A 75-year-old law student has approached the Ranir Bazar Police Station seeking registration of an FIR and immediate police intervention over what he has described as a serious case of harassment, intimidation, medical neglect and life-endangering conduct at Jirania Law College in West Tripura.
In a complaint dated August 18, 2026, Biswanath Bhattacharya, a resident of Kunjaban Colony in Agartala, alleged that he was repeatedly humiliated and harassed during examinations and subsequently suffered physical injuries after collapsing inside the college premises. He has sought immediate action against Jirania Law College Secretary Bishnupada Das, Guest Lecturer Mariyam Chakraborty, Librarian and alleged de facto Vice-Principal Krishna Deb, Krishnajit Debbarma, and others whom the police may find involved.
According to the complaint, Bhattacharya alleged that Bishnupada Das had mocked his age and questioned why he was pursuing an LLB at his age instead of engaging in religious activities. The student stated that he had earlier brought the alleged remarks to the attention of Dr Priya Ranjan Kumar, Head of the Department of Law at Tripura University, through WhatsApp.
Bhattacharya said the relevant WhatsApp message was accidentally deleted from his handset but maintained that the communication and associated digital traces could potentially be recovered through lawful forensic investigation. He has therefore requested police preservation and retrieval of relevant electronic evidence.
A major allegation in the complaint relates to conditions during an examination. Bhattacharya claimed that there were prolonged power failures at the college amid extremely hot weather and that no adequate alternative power arrangement was available.
He further alleged that Mariyam Chakraborty and Krishna Deb harassed him inside the examination hall and failed to provide assistance when he collapsed twice following a surge in blood pressure. He alleged that instead of receiving immediate assistance, his distress was allegedly laughed at.
Bhattacharya further alleged that Bishnupada Das later returned to the examination venue and again harassed him, with Mariyam Chakraborty allegedly accompanying him. He claimed that he subsequently fell again, sustained injuries and had to be taken to the Trauma Centre of Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GBP Hospital) in Agartala.
The complainant has enclosed his medical documents with the police complaint and has requested that his injuries be medically assessed as part of the investigation.
Seeks preservation of CCTV and digital evidence
Expressing concern that evidence could be lost or tampered with, Bhattacharya has requested the police to immediately secure CCTV footage, examination-related records, power-failure records, electronic communications, device data, backups and other institutional documents.
He has also sought preservation and forensic examination of the allegedly deleted WhatsApp communication, arguing that deletion from his handset does not necessarily mean that all related digital evidence has disappeared.
The complainant has further requested recording of statements from himself and other persons who may have witnessed the alleged incidents.
The complaint also raises a separate and potentially significant allegation concerning examination practices at Jirania Law College.
Bhattacharya alleged that students across different semesters were openly using ChatGPT and other artificial-intelligence tools to copy answers during examinations. He has urged the authorities to investigate the allegation by examining answer scripts, CCTV footage, invigilation records and, where legally permissible, relevant device-use evidence.
He suggested that forensic and academic comparison of answer scripts could help determine whether students had relied on AI-generated material, particularly where answers allegedly display substantial similarities in structure, phrasing, sequencing and reasoning.
These allegations, however, remain claims made in the complaint and would require independent verification by the competent authorities.
Separate assault case cited
Bhattacharya has also referred to an alleged assault involving his batchmate, Madhuchhanda Saha, inside the college premises on August 13.
According to his complaint, an FIR bearing No. 2027 RNB 042, dated August 13, was reportedly registered in connection with the incident and treated under BNS Section 117(2) relating to grievous hurt.
Bhattacharya has questioned how the person allegedly involved in that incident was able to appear for law examinations in the presence of police personnel, and has sought an inquiry into what he described as possible institutional protection or preferential treatment.
The allegations regarding the FIR, the assault and the circumstances surrounding the examination will need to be independently verified by the police.
In his complaint, Bhattacharya has requested investigation under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), including provisions he believes may apply to causing hurt, criminal intimidation, conspiracy and related offences.
He has specifically invoked BNSS Section 173 for registration of information relating to cognizable offences and Section 35 in support of his demand for immediate arrest, arguing that arrest may be necessary to prevent further offences, protect witnesses and prevent possible destruction or tampering with evidence.
He has also referred to BNSS Section 176, requesting immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents.
The precise offences applicable to the facts, if any, will ultimately have to be determined by the investigating agency on the basis of evidence and the applicable law.
Bhattacharya has requested immediate police protection, claiming that he fears for his safety and does not feel secure continuing his studies at the institution.
Among his demands are registration of an FIR, investigation into the alleged harassment and medical neglect, seizure and forensic preservation of CCTV and electronic evidence, examination of hospital records, verification of examination and power-failure records, and recording of statements from relevant witnesses.
He has also sought an inquiry into Tripura University inspections, the college's infrastructure and power arrangements, examination-related records, alleged AI use during examinations and the verification of relevant institutional documents.
The complainant has further requested a refund of money that may be legally refundable by the college, stating that he does not feel safe continuing his education there.
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