SRFTI Protest: Students refuse to leave campus, continue sit-in during Durga Puja

KOLKATA: Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute students, who have been protesting over campus violence, on Sunday said they won't leave the premises despite a 24-hour ultimatum being given to them by the authorities concerned to vacate hostels and the institute complex. The agitating students also decided that they will not halt their sit-in during Durga Puja holidays. The students are demanding the resignation of the institute's vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera and action against those allegedly involved in attacks on the campus.

The SRFTI students were allegedly attacked in incidents of violence on September 27 and October 4. They have maintained that the agitation will continue until their demands are addressed.

The institute authorities issued a directive on Friday, asking students to vacate the hostels and campus within 24 hours. The move has raised concerns among students, many of whom have come to Kolkata from other states and may find it difficult to make alternative arrangements, students' union spokesperson Sudip Chakraborty told PTI.

"Around 150 students, either staying in hostels or in other accommodation in the city, are facing a difficult situation following the directive to leave the campus in 24 hours. We see this ultimatum as an attempt to break our morale. But we will continue our stir," he said. The students have alleged that the institute authorities' response to their demands has been "unsatisfactory" and claimed that the directive was "contrary to basic human rights".

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SRFTI asks students to vacate campus

The institute, on October 16, said it would suspend academic activities in its Film and Electronic and Digital Media (EDM) wings until November 13 and directed all students staying on the campus, including those in hostels, to vacate the premises within 24 hours. In an office order issued in view of the festive period and associated administrative requirements, the institute, which functions under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said the measures had been taken in the interest of the orderly functioning of the campus.

The order, however, clarified that the ITEC programme would continue as scheduled, subject to specific instructions from the competent authority. Hostel facilities will also remain closed until November 13 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, it said.

The department heads, hostel wardens, security officers and other officials concerned were instructed to ensure implementation of the order and report instances of non-compliance to the competent authority.