'OYO rooms' at Kolkata college? Student claims threats, pressure from TMC leader

A student at Surendranath Law College in Kolkata has alleged that two campus rooms were being used as 'OYO rooms' for non-academic purposes. She also alleged that female students were threatened and pressured by a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader.

The allegations were made by Nilanjana Bhattacharya, a sixth-semester law student and one of the students protesting at the college. She said the rooms, which had beds, pillows and attached bathrooms, were being used as “OYO rooms”. (Photo: India Today)

Bhattacharya levelled the allegations against Debasish Banerjee, popularly known as 'Kan Kata Debu', who is the president of the college's governing body, and a local TMC leader.

“There are OYO rooms inside our college. The money we paid for our education was used to build these rooms. We were repeatedly asked to compromise. We were threatened,” Bhattacharya said at a press conference organised by protesting students. (Photo: India Today)

The claims surfaced during a student protest at the college over a dispute concerning attendance requirements. Students had alleged that they were being prevented from appearing for their final examinations because of a shortage of attendance. (Photo: India Today) Members of the RSS-affliated ABVP subsequently joined the protest against 'OYO rooms' on the college premises.

Amid the protests, there was drama as college Vice-Principal Mohammadi Tarannum resigned. However, Tarannum later said that she had not stepped down voluntarily and claimed that she had been forced to resign. She subsequently returned to college.COLLEGE VICE-PRINCIPAL CLAIMS INTIMIDATION, THREATS

Speaking to India Today TV, Tarannum said no female student had submitted a written complaint to her about the alleged incidents. However, she said that after learning about the allegations, she approached the State Women's Commission and sought an investigation.

Tarannum said she was aware of two rooms inside the college containing beds and pillows. She said she had been told that the rooms were intended to accommodate visitors attending seminars at the college, but didn't knew what was happening inside them.

“We knew such rooms existed in the college, but we were unaware of what went on inside them. We had been told that these rooms were designated for visiting guests during seminars. No female student lodged a written complaint with me; I approached the Women's Commission myself after learning about the incident. I want them to conduct a thorough investigation,” Tarannum said.

Tarannum also alleged that she had repeatedly approached then-Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Education Ministers over the past 15 years regarding issues at the college, but claimed that no effective action had been taken.

She further alleged a culture of intimidation at the college involving Debasish Banerjee. She claimed that Debasish Banerjee had threatened her when she objected to certain activities.

Tarannum alleged that Debasish Banerjee had threatened to kidnap her son and had told a female teacher that someone could come from outside the college, attack her with a knife and kill her.

“Debasish Banerjee would threaten me from time to time. Sometimes, he would say that outside college, I was just an ordinary citizen. If someone were to slash my throat while I was walking down the street, I would lose my life senselessly. At other times, he would even threaten to kidnap my son,” she alleged.

The allegations have not been independently verified by police.- EndsPublished By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 16, 2026 08:19 IST