Kolkata:
The death of a first year student of Kalinagar College in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali area has sparked off a major political controversy.
The student belonged to the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and was a candidate in the upcoming college union elections.
After initially saying the student had died of a cerebral attack, local Trinamool leaders and minister Jyotipriya Mullick claimed he had been beaten up by members of the CPM's student body, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), and succumbed to his injuries.
The SFI has, however, denied any role in the student's death and has called for a thorough investigation into the matter. The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad too has called for a probe into the cause of death.
Student union elections are due in that college on January 22. Last year, student elections had led to massive violence on campuses across West Bengal. A policeman had even been shot dead outside a Kolkata college during a clash. This time, college elections are being held amid tight security but reports of clashes are coming in from across the state.