The standoff at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata intensified on Sunday after the administration defended the rustication of six students and said disciplinary action was linked to alleged assault, vandalism and misconduct rather than peaceful protest. Protesting students, meanwhile, alleged that electricity to the only classroom they could access for internet connectivity and workstation facilities had been disconnected, restricting their ability to work as their indefinite sit-in entered its second week.
In a statement signed by registrar Deepak Kumar, SRFTI said it upheld students’ right to express grievances and hold peaceful protests. “Peaceful dissent, in itself, is never grounds for disciplinary action,” the institute said, while maintaining that the disciplinary recommendations followed alleged violations of its bye-laws and student conduct rules.
The administration said the recommendations came from the Dean’s Council, which includes department heads, the dean, the registrar and members of the fact-finding committee examining the incidents. It cited the alleged occupation and vandalism of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera’s office, saying photographic evidence showed shattered windowpanes, damaged furniture and deliberately cut water and air-conditioning lines.
The institute also accused one student of manhandling the vice-chancellor and alleged that others surrounded, intimidated and abused him. Six students have been rusticated over allegations that include assault on the vice-chancellor and staff members, as well as violations of campus discipline. The students’ allegations and the institute’s claims have not been independently adjudicated in the material available in the report.
Students have been staging an indefinite sit-in outside the vice-chancellor’s office since October 12. They are demanding Ajmera’s resignation and accountability for attacks they allege took place on campus. The students had earlier accused the administration of restricting access to basic facilities, including washrooms, and said the alleged classroom power cut had further limited their access to internet connectivity and workstations.
A senior SRFTI official denied that internet access had been cut, saying students had livestreamed activities, including a press conference, from the campus on Sunday. The students’ allegation concerned electricity to the classroom they were using for connectivity and workstation access.
The latest confrontation follows clashes on September 27 during an event organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, a consumer awareness group affiliated with the RSS. Several students were injured, according to the report, and academic activities were halted the following day. On October 4, members of the Bangiyo Hindu Jagaran Mancha demonstrated outside the institute. Students alleged that stones, bricks and bottles were thrown towards the campus.
The Bengal government subsequently formed a Special Investigation Team to examine the September 27 clashes. Students have said the administration failed to ensure their safety and have sought an independent investigation and action against those involved. The institute’s disciplinary proceedings and the state investigation are separate processes, with the available report not indicating that the SIT inquiry has reached a conclusion.
On October 16, SRFTI suspended regular academic activities in its Film and Electronic and Digital Media departments until November 13. It also ordered students to vacate hostels and other premises within 24 hours. The administration said the suspension and evacuation order were intended to restore normalcy and allow the institute to function in an orderly manner, while alleging that some students continued to occupy the premises illegally.
The institute also said the agitation involved only a section of students and should not be treated as representative of the entire student body. A senior official alleged that some protesters were being instigated by political elements and were in contact with student bodies at other institutions, including Jadavpur University. The institute said it would assess the situation by November 13 and take whatever decision was required.
