The Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata has announced tighter campus security after supporters of the Hindu Jagran Manch allegedly attempted to force open its main gate and threw stones and water bottles into the campus on Sunday, injuring several students.
In a statement issued on Monday, the national film institute said a group of people from outside the campus had gathered near the main gate and created disturbances that disrupted the security environment. SRFTI said a formal complaint had been filed with the concerned authorities and that police intervention helped disperse the gathering.
The institute did not name the Hindu Jagran Manch in its statement. It said it “unequivocally condemns any act of violence, intimidation or attempt to unlawfully enter the campus” and was working with local authorities to maintain peace and order. Measures are being taken to strengthen security at the campus gates and along the perimeter, it said.
Vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera said SRFTI remained concerned about the incidents of the past few days and that the institute was providing full support to injured students. “We are taking every necessary measure to safeguard our students and enable them to continue their academic and creative work,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.
The Sunday violence followed an earlier confrontation on September 27, when students were allegedly attacked by supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, or ABGP, after questioning how the RSS-linked organisation had been allowed to hold an event on the campus. Students have alleged that the administration failed to prevent a second attack despite receiving a warning about the proposed Hindu Jagran Manch march.
A student union leader told The Telegraph that students had written to the SRFTI authorities on Saturday, referring to the earlier violence and warning that the administration and concerned authorities were responsible for preventing any further threat to student safety. The student alleged that the warning was not acted upon.
The Hindu Jagran Manch said its march was a protest against what it described as disrespect to Swami Vivekananda and Bharat Mata during the September 27 incident. Manch spokesperson Rohit Shaw said students had disrespected the images while disrupting the ABGP programme at the institute’s Main Theatre, an allegation that formed the basis of the organisation’s protest.
According to the report, supporters gathered outside the campus at around 5pm on Sunday, with some allegedly attempting to climb the boundary wall. Police intervened and brought the situation under control. Police said CCTV footage would be examined and those involved in the violence identified.
The confrontation has also disrupted academic activity. Students have been boycotting theory classes since the September 27 attack, according to a student union member, who said they would continue their protest while remaining unafraid of further attacks. SRFTI said it was maintaining regular communication with students and reiterated that they should be able to attend classes and pursue academic and creative work without fear.
The institute said its campus brings together students from across India, representing different regions, languages, cultures and lived experiences. Its announced next steps are to support injured students, strengthen perimeter and gate security, and coordinate with local authorities while the police examine available CCTV footage.
