Students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata continued their academic boycott on Wednesday for the 10th consecutive day, seeking written safety assurances from Union information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and institute vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera after violence on campus.
The students have stayed away from classes and film shoots since a September 27 clash involving students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an RSS-affiliated consumer awareness group, during a programme at the institute. The boycott has disrupted both classroom activity and the practical film production work that forms a central part of SRFTI’s academic programme.
Student union member Nachiket said students would not return to academic activities until Vaishnaw and Ajmera provided written assurances on their safety. A petition submitted to Vaishnaw on October 3 sought adequate security personnel at campus gates and entry points, coordination between the institute administration and local police, and steps to prevent crowds from assembling outside the main gate.
“Till we see any demonstrative action on the part of authorities to restore confidence among students, our academic boycott will continue,” Nachiket said.
The campus witnessed another confrontation on October 4 during a protest organised by members of the Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Mancha. According to the report, some agitators attempted to break open the institute’s gate and were stopped by police. The main gate remained barricaded, with police maintaining vigil in the area.
The SRFTI students’ union has also demanded the resignation of Ajmera and registrar Deepak Kumar. The union has alleged that the institute leadership failed to prevent attacks by RSS-linked groups, intimidation of students and attempts to threaten what it described as the campus’s liberal and progressive space. These allegations were reported as claims by the students’ union and were not independently established in the supplied report.
The union also denied plans to hold a rally with Left-leaning student groups from Jadavpur University, which has itself witnessed violence in August and controversy over a convention organised on its campus. The SRFTI union nevertheless thanked groups and individuals who had extended support to its demand for security.
In a statement issued on October 5, the institute said it remained concerned about the incidents of October 4 and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety, security and well-being of students. “A formal complaint has been filed with the authorities,” SRFTI said, adding that it “unequivocally condemns any act of violence, intimidation or attempt to unlawfully enter the campus”.
The institute said it was coordinating with local authorities and cooperating fully to maintain peace and order in and around the campus. Students’ return to classes and film shoots remains contingent on the written assurances and demonstrative security measures they have sought.
