SRFTI students demand VC's removal over campus violence; their sit-in enters 3rd day

KOLKATA: Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute students, whose indefinite sit-in entered the third day on Wednesday over campus violence, accused the vice chancellor of failing to ensure safety and demanded his immediate resignation. In a statement dated October 13, the SRFTI Students' Union alleged that the institute authorities "failed to take adequate preventive measures before a rally reached the campus gate on October 4, despite prior warnings about possible violence".

The SRFTI students also accused the authorities of "diluting police complaints, threatening disciplinary action against protesters and refusing to engage in meaningful dialogue" with them. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) students were allegedly attacked in two incidents of violence on September 27 and October 4. According to the statement, the September 27 incident occurred in connection with an event organised by people associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an RSS-affiliated consumer awareness group. A complaint was lodged with the Panchasayar Police Station, naming the organisation, but "no action has been taken so far", the students' union claimed.

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On October 4, the campus again witnessed a scuffle during a protest organised by members of the Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Mancha. Some of the agitators tried to break open the institute's gate when they were stopped by police. Despite social media posts announcing a march to the institute's gate on October 4, the administration did not take adequate steps to prevent the rally from reaching the campus, the students' union claimed. It also alleged that a police complaint filed after the October 4 incident did not name any outfit or organisation. The students also accused a section of institute staff members of manhandling them during a sit-in at Vice Chancellor Santosh Ajmera's office on October 5 and 6.

The students accused Ajmera of failing to intervene or initiate action against those involved. The students' union also alleged that they were threatened with disciplinary action and adverse career consequences during discussions following the incidents. The academic activities remain halted at SRFTI for 17 successive days. The union claimed that the vice-chancellor had warned that the institute could be shut down if classes did not resume. The students expressed concern over alleged restrictions on their access to campus facilities and the denial of access to the administrative building during evening hours.