Media Narratives and Public Perception: The Hindol Mazumdar Controversy

by Mahamudul Hasan Gayen

In the politically charged atmosphere of West Bengal, the arrest of Hindol Mazumdar, a Jadavpur University (JU) alumnus and PhD researcher at the University of Granada in Spain, has sparked intense debate. On August 13, 2025, Mazumdar was detained at Delhi airport upon returning from Europe, accused by Kolkata Police of orchestrating an attack on Education Minister Bratya Basu’s convoy during a student protest at JU on March 1, 2025. The incident involved Left-affiliated students, including members of the Democratic Youth Students’ Association (DYSA), demanding long-overdue student union elections. Basu alleged his car was vandalized and he was heckled, while protesters claimed the minister’s vehicle injured a student. Mazumdar, absent from India since November 2023, was labeled the “prime conspirator” based on purported WhatsApp messages, with police drawing comparisons to terrorists like Aftab Ansari. Granted bail on August 18 after three days in custody, the case has exposed deep divisions in media narratives and public opinion, highlighting the media’s role in shaping perceptions of Majumdar, JU, and West Bengal’s political climate.

            Mainstream media outlets have largely amplified the official narrative, framing Mazumdar’s arrest as a legitimate crackdown on a conspiracy. The Indian Express detailed police allegations of his role in orchestrating the protest from abroad, emphasizing WhatsApp chats as evidence of a “bigger conspiracy”. The Economic Times highlighted Mazumdar’s academic background juxtaposed against claims of incitement, portraying the arrest as a blow to potential threats against state figures. The Hindu covered the remand hearing, noting prosecutors’ comparisons of Majumdar’s alleged planning to historical attacks, reinforcing a sense of urgency. Hindustan Times reported on the bail granting but emphasized police concerns over evidence tampering, subtly endorsing the investigative process. Such coverage often prioritizes sensational elements—like the dramatic airport arrest and terrorist analogies—potentially shaping public views toward seeing Majumdar as a remote agitator rather than a scholar caught in political crossfire.

            Conversely, alternative and progressive media have challenged this portrayal, labeling the arrest a “witch-hunt” by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government to stifle dissent. Groundxero described it as “alarming for democracy,” arguing the charges were fabricated to intimidate student activists, with no concrete evidence linking Mazumdar to violence. The Wire questioned the plausibility of the conspiracy claims, noting Majumdar’s absence from India and criticizing the lack of Information Technology Act invocation for digital evidence. Maktoob Media and Countercurrents amplified civil society condemnations, framing the case as part of a broader pattern of harassment against Left-leaning voices, including DYSA members. These outlets highlight counter-claims: protesters allege Basu’s convoy provoked the clash by driving into the crowd, injuring students, yet no action was taken against the minister. By focusing on academic freedom and state overreach, they portray Majumdar as a victim.

            Social media has been a vital platform for counter-narratives, amplifying voices sidelined in mainstream discourse. On X, users like @chhuti_is mocked TMC’s comparisons of Majumdar to Osama bin Laden, calling it absurd and highlighting the irony of targeting a scholar abroad. DYSA’s statements, shared widely, denounced the arrest as “fabricated” and an attack on democratic spaces, emphasizing Majumdar’s role in peaceful activism. Reddit threads on r/kolkata and r/unitedstatesofindia criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as “Modi in a white saree,” linking the case to authoritarian tactics and urging CBI probes. These platforms fostered grassroots outrage, with hashtags like #FreeHindolMazumdar trending briefly, allowing JU alumni and activists to share testimonies of Mazumdar’s character and the protest’s context. However, social media’s echo chambers risk misinformation, as unverified claims of police brutality circulate alongside verified reports.

            The polarized reporting has profoundly shaped perceptions. For TMC supporters and those relying on mainstream sources, Mazumdar appears as a threat to law and order, reinforcing views of JU as a “hub of unrest” amid past controversies like the 2023 ragging death. Conversely, among academics, Leftists, and opposition figures like BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, he’s a symbol of repressed dissent, eroding trust in state institutions and portraying West Bengal’s political climate as increasingly autocratic. Public opinion, as seen in social media snippets, reflects this divide: some see the arrest as justice, others as vendetta, fueling protests by the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) and groups like the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR).

            Media’s role extends beyond polarization to sensationalism and bias, often prioritizing clicks over nuance. Comparisons to terrorists inflate the narrative, while selective omission of counter-evidence—like forensic verification of chats—undermines journalistic integrity. In a democracy, such dynamics can suppress free speech, militarize academia, and widen societal rifts. As Majumdar walks free on bail, the controversy underscores media’s power to not just inform but shape the very fabric of public discourse in West Bengal’s volatile politics.

References

1. The Economic Times. (2025). "Jadavpur University alumnus arrested at Delhi airport for alleged role in attack on West Bengal minister's convoy."

2. The Indian Express. (2025). "JU alumnus held for attack on minister’s convoy, police claim bigger conspiracy."

3. The Hindu. (2025). "Hindol Mazumdar remanded in custody for alleged role in attack on Bratya Basu’s convoy."

4. Hindustan Times. (2025). "JU scholar granted bail in Bratya Basu convoy attack case."

5. The Statesman. (2023). "Jadavpur University faces backlash after ragging death."

6. The Wire. (2025). "Lack of forensic evidence raises questions in Hindol Mazumdar case."

7. The Indian Express. (2025). "Suvendu Adhikari slams TMC over JU scholar’s arrest."

8. Maktoob Media. (2025). "Hindol Mazumdar’s arrest: Another attack on dissent in West Bengal."

9. Countercurrents. (2025). "JU students, teachers condemn arrest of Hindol Mazumdar as vendetta."

10. X Post by @chhuti_is. (2025). "Comparing a JU scholar to bin Laden? TMC’s desperation is laughable."

11. DYSA Statement. (2025). "Release Hindol Mazumdar: Stop the witch-hunt against students."

12. The Wire. (2025). "Why no IT Act in Hindol Mazumdar’s arrest? Questions mount over police evidence."

13. Reddit r/kolkata. (2025). "Mamata’s TMC targeting JU students: Hindol Mazumdar case."

14. Reddit r/unitedstatesofindia. (2025). "Hindol Mazumdar’s arrest: Another Modi in a white saree?"

15. Groundxero. (2025). "Arrest of Hindol Mazumdar: A new low for democracy in Bengal."

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 Mahamudul Hasan Gayen is a PhD Scholar, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.