Researcher Labels Govt Intolerance After Arrest, Bail Granted

Kolkata, Aug 21 (PTI) Hindol Majumdar, a Jadavpur University alumnus and researcher, has criticized the West Bengal government after being controversially compared to convicted terrorist Aftab Ansari in open court. Majumdar, accused of orchestrating an attack on a state minister's convoy, equated this analogy to the government's purported intolerance to criticism. He was granted bail by an Alipore court and is expected to return to Spain soon to continue his research in biomedicine.

In an interview with PTI after his release, Majumdar commented on the growing trend in public discourse to label dissenters as ‘anti-national.’ His arrest, which took place five days prior at Delhi airport upon his return from Europe, was tied to accusations of plotting an attack on West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu's convoy in March. "When I first heard the government lawyer’s analogy, I was shocked," Majumdar recalled. "However, upon reflection, I realized the analogy was unsurprising given the current societal climate, where critique is often mistaken for antagonism."

A recipient of the Marie Curie scholarship for his studies in Spain, Majumdar was likened by the Kolkata Police’s chief public prosecutor to Ansari based on "circumstantial similarity" in alleged crime plotting. Ansari, a convicted mastermind of the 2002 American Center attack in Kolkata, faces a death sentence for his actions.

Majumdar argued that his criticisms of the government are constructive, aimed at urging better performance, especially since the administration holds significant resources. "I only seek to motivate the government to do more for the people, but dissenting voices are often silenced," he added. His research in Spain focuses on predictive tools for kidney-related autoimmune disorders using AI and machine learning.

The 31-year-old researcher shared his perspective: "Loving one’s country means pushing for positive change." He lamented a shift from India's past popular culture, embodied in films like "Rang De Basanti" and "Swades," which critiqued societal issues while celebrating nationalism. "Now, there’s an expectation to only sing praises for those in power," he said.

Majumdar expressed disbelief at the issuance of a Lookout Circular Notice against him, commonly used for evading criminals. "Why was a lookout notice issued for me? I wasn’t on the run. The authorities could have simply contacted me," he explained, noting he shared this with interrogators at Jadavpur police station.

Despite his arrest, Majumdar appreciated the professionalism of police officers he encountered in Delhi and Kolkata. "The police simply did their job, and I didn’t face any custodial mistreatment," he acknowledged. His custody experience offered a glimpse into "another India," full of individuals from challenging backgrounds and involved in diverse crimes.

Majumdar expressed concerns about his doctoral thesis timeline, aiming for completion by 2027. Although he has received court permission to return to Spain, the police have yet to return his seized phone and work laptop, impeding his work progress. "My laptop contains vital documents for my research," he noted.

Regarding the status of the lookout notice, Majumdar remains uncertain: "I am unsure if it has been lifted."

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