“I returned from the hospital just a short while ago. A brick the size of my palm was thrown at me,” a student from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata told Newslaundry on October 4, the day of an incident in which bricks and stones were thrown from outside the college gate.

She is one of two female students injured that day. She sustained a head injury that required stitches, while doctors advised the other to undergo a CT scan.

The violence was the second flare-up at SRFTI in a week. On September 27, a scuffle broke out between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an organisation linked to the RSS, who were attending an event they organised on campus, and SRFTI students protesting against it.

A week later, on October 4, a rally associated with the Hindu Jagran Manch, a right-wing Hindu organisation, arrived at the college gate. Students allege that attempts were made to break down the gate and that stone and water bottles were hurled from outside.

Following these incidents, students have demanded security from the administration and action against those allegedly responsible for the attacks. They say academic activities at the college will not resume until their demands are met.    

Two incidents in a week

On September 27, the college administration granted the ABGP permission to hold an event on campus. The Student Council opposed this, arguing that college resources should not be used for an event organised by a group associated with a specific political ideology. 

A clash ensued between students and event attendees during the protest. Students allege that they were assaulted and chased down by the attackers. Several students were injured. Newslaundry has previously reported on this event. 

Following this incident, on October 4, a poster announcing a march from Ajay Nagar crossing to SRFTI was shared on a Facebook page called ‘Bongiyo Hindu Jagaran Jadavpur District’ of the Hindu Jagran Manch. The post called for the “awakening” of Bengali Hindus.

According to Nachiket, a member of the student council, students had learned about the rally two days in advance. He said the students had informed the Vice-Chancellor (VC), police officials, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

On the day of the rally, students met the V-C to express security concerns, according to Nachiket, but the V-C allegedly said stopping it was beyond his jurisdiction. Nachiket also alleged that the V-C spoke to students in a threatening manner, claiming that if they escalated the matter, their identities could be disclosed publicly.

Crowd reaches college gate

A large number of people participated in the rally held on October 4. According to students, many participants carried saffron flags, while some also held sticks. Students alleged that the crowd raised objectionable and violent slogans.

The crowd reached the college gate around 3 pm. Students reported that some individuals attempted to break down the gate. Acting on prior information, police were present outside the college and prevented the crowd from entering the campus.

Nachiket, who was present at the scene, told Newslaundry, “Upon reaching the gate, they started trying to break it down and began hurling water bottles and stones from the outside. We stood our ground and responded by raising slogans of ‘Jai Bhim’ and ‘Inquilab’.”

According to the students, two female students were injured in the stone-pelting. Some other students also sustained minor injuries.

Classes and workshops suspended for a week

Students say classes, lab sessions, and workshops have not been held at the college since the September 27 incident. They have placed several demands before the V-C, including FIRs against those who attacked students on September 27 and October 4, and the resignations of the V-C, the Registrar and the Administrative Officer (AO). They said that students will resume their studies on campus only after action is taken on these demands. 

SRFTI students had shared details about the October 4 rally on social media. They also wrote to Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging him to ensure the safety of students. Student unions from FTII Pune, SRFTI Kolkata, and FTII Itanagar also appealed to the administration to ensure students’ safety.

Following these incidents, students are now concerned about security on campus. Newslaundry tried to contact the college administration for their perspective. They did not respond to our calls at the time of publishing this report. But in a statement yesterday, they condemned the violence and intimidation, and pledged to strengthen campus security for the safety of students and provide all possible assistance to those injured.

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