Mumbai: Some students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have lodged a police complaint against a professor and a guest speaker, accusing them of expressing support for Palestinian terrorists. The complaint targets Professor Sharmistha Saha from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) and guest speaker Sudhanva Deshpande for their statements made on November 6.

Students Demand Action:
In the complaint filed on Wednesday, the students are seeking action against Professor Sharmistha Saha and guest speaker Sudhanva Deshpande for their alleged pro-Hamas sentiments. The incident occurred during a discussion as part of the academic course 'HS 835 Performance Theory and Praxis.'

Accusations Against Professor and Guest Speaker:
The students accuse Professor Sharmistha Saha of improperly using her position to invite Sudhanva Deshpande, described as a radical leftist, as part of the academic course. The complaint asserts that Deshpande glorified Palestinian terrorist Zakaria Zubaidi during the discussion, which raised concerns about academic integrity and IIT Bombay's security.

Zakaria Zubaidi's Association with Terrorism:
Zakaria Zubaidi is associated with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, designated as a terrorist organization by various governments and international organizations, including the United States, the European Union, and Israel. The students expressed concern about the potential serious problems arising from the professor and guest speaker's association with a terrorist-linked organization.

Contentious Statements by Guest Speaker:
The complaint quotes Sudhanva Deshpande defending the Palestinian struggle as a freedom struggle and justifying violence by stating, "The Palestinian struggle is a freedom struggle. And in the history of the world, in the history of colonialism, there has never been a struggle that has been completely 100 percent non-violent."

Students' Concerns and Appeal to Police:
The students expressed their concern about the impact of such statements on the impressionable minds of young students and the potential security risks associated with promoting ideologies linked to terrorism. They have urged the police to investigate the matter.

The situation has sparked controversy within IIT Bombay, as students raise questions about academic integrity, ideological influence, and potential security implications associated with discussions on sensitive geopolitical issues. The police complaint highlights the broader debate around free expression, academic freedom, and responsible discourse within educational institutions.

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