11 DECEMBER 2006, HINDUSTAN TIMES, PATNA.
“…..how many deaths will it take till he knows, that too many people have died; the answer my friend is blowing in the wind…..”
Improvising on a popular Bob Dylan tune, Patna Women’s College students sang for their favorite Professor, Papiya Ghosh, as they marched, holding candles, to the JP Roundabout here on Monday evening. The emotion, anguish and hurt was evident as friends of the late Professor broke down while recalling their association with the wonderful human being and acclaimed scholar that she was. There were messages from Scholars of various Universities in Berkeley, London, Chicago, Duke, Rutgers, Jadavpur and Delhi. Many participants said they were upset that even 10 days after her murder, the police were yet to nab her killers.
Earlier in the day, a combative Opposition disrupted proceedings in both Houses of the Bihar Legislative as it pressed for acceptance of its Adjournment Motions articulating the law and order concerns arising out of the Patna University Professor’s murder. It also expressed concern about the progress of the Police investigation and demanded that the Government handed over the probe to CBI.
However, Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar dismissed the Opposition’s demands. He said the Professor’s killing was not the kind of case the CBI is equipped to handle. “Demanding a CBI probe has become a fashion nowadays,” he said.
“The Police are on the job. I have personally reviewed the progress of the investigations only on Monday. A breakthrough should not take long. But we must have patience. Undue brouhaha will not expedite matters,” he told reporters after the House were adjourned. He also dared the Opposition to come out with information, if it had any, on the Papiya case.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition, Rabri Devi, declared that the Bihar Legislature would not be allowed to function till such time as the Adjournment Motion was admitted and deliberated upon.
The Professor was stabbed to death along with her maid in her posh Patliputra home on the night of December 2/3.