The Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) has asked residential students to leave its Kolkata campus after suspending regular academic activities in the film wing and electronic and digital media department until November 13, intensifying a dispute over protests, alleged attacks and disciplinary action at the institute.
In an email sent to parents, SRFTI’s tutorial section said administrative measures had been introduced “in view of the recent developments on campus and the need to ensure the orderly functioning of the institute”. It asked parents to facilitate the return of their wards to their homes or other suitable places of stay and ensure that they complied with the direction to vacate the institute premises.
The communication followed the refusal of students to leave within 24 hours of a notice issued on Friday. More than 100 residential students said the short notice was unreasonable and violated their rights. The institute’s email said the measures were intended to restore normalcy, maintain an orderly campus atmosphere and enable the resumption of academic activities in a conducive environment.
SRFTI vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera said the email had been sent to “facilitate the return” of students because academic activities had been suspended until November 13. An institute official said the administration was duty-bound to update parents about the situation on campus. “If we don’t alert parents, we will be failing in our duties,” the official said.
The order came a day after SRFTI rusticated six students over charges of manhandling, heckling and verbally abusing Ajmera during a protest. Students denied heckling the vice-chancellor and said they had been boycotting classes since September 28 to protest attacks allegedly carried out by organisations linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. “What is our fault? We are simply boycotting classes to protest the attacks,” a student said, adding that the administration had failed to deliver justice.
According to the report, SRFTI students were attacked on September 27, allegedly by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat. On October 4, supporters of the Hindu Jagran Manch allegedly attempted to storm the campus. No arrests have been made in connection with the attacks, the report said.
Students have accused the administration of using pressure on parents to force them out of the hostels instead of pressing the police to act against those responsible for the alleged attacks. The administration, however, has presented the parent communication and campus-vacation order as measures to manage the situation while academic activity remains suspended. The immediate next step is for students to comply with the vacation directive, with regular academic activities scheduled to remain suspended until November 13 unless the institute issues further directions.
