Cotton University Students’ Union president Deep Shekhar Kalita has been released from police custody, a day after he was detained in connection with an assault case filed at Panbazar Police Station. His release, however, has come with strict conditions, including an instruction to appear before the authorities whenever required during the investigation.
Kalita, who lives in the Sitanath Brahma Choudhury (SNBC) Hostel and heads the Cotton University Students’ Union (Chatra Ekta Sabha), was picked up after a case was registered against him following an incident that took place on the night of November 26 near Hostel Road in Panbazar.
According to the police, the case stemmed from a confrontation that reportedly began after a person claiming to be a police officer was involved in a minor accident with a former Cotton University student. When the argument escalated, some students from SNBC Hostel came out to see what was happening. As the former student tried to enter the hostel premises, residents, including Kalita, allegedly tried to stop him from entering without permission. Based on this sequence of events, a complaint was lodged, leading to Kalita’s arrest. 
Kalita’s detention caused a strong reaction from Cotton University students. Within hours, a large group gathered near Panbazar Police Station late in the evening, demanding his release. Students said Kalita was not involved in the alleged assault and was taken away while he was “having evening tea.” They also claimed that a senior police officer, who they alleged was under the influence of alcohol, had assaulted Kalita and wrongly implicated him in the case.
Students further said that the case was part of a false narrative and urged city police to take action against the officer they believe mishandled the situation. They insisted that the union president had maintained discipline during the incident and had only prevented unauthorized entry into the hostel.
Police, however, maintained a different version. According to officials, Kalita was detained based on an earlier case registered three days prior on College Road, which alleged that he had assaulted an on-duty patrolling police officer. They said the November 26 incident was connected to that earlier complaint, and the investigation is still ongoing.
For now, Kalita has been allowed to return to the hostel, but he must cooperate fully with the police and appear whenever he is called for questioning.
