SRFTI Condemns Campus Disturbance, Strengthens Security After Outside Group Gathers at Gate

Kolkata , October 6 : The Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, has expressed concern over a disturbance at its campus on October 4 and said it is taking steps to strengthen security and ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.

 

 

According to the institute, a group of people from outside the campus gathered near the main gate on Sunday and created a disturbance, affecting the security environment of the institute. SRFTI said a formal complaint regarding the incident has been filed with the concerned authorities.

 

The police intervened in time and dispersed the gathering. The institute condemned acts of violence, intimidation or attempts to enter the campus unlawfully and said it is coordinating with local authorities to maintain peace and order in and around the campus.

 

“The events of the past few days have been deeply concerning,” the Vice-Chancellor said, adding that the institute is providing full support to students who were injured and taking necessary measures to protect students and allow them to continue their academic and creative work.

 

 

 

The institute said it is maintaining regular communication with students and addressing their concerns.

SRFTI reiterated that students should be able to attend classes and pursue their academic and creative activities without fear. It said the safety of students, faculty and staff, along with the protection of the institute’s academic environment, remains its central priority amid the current situation.

 

The Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata was recently shaken by violent clashes in late 2026, sparked by a political event hosted on campus. On September 27, 2026, students protested an event held in the campus auditorium by the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), leading to a massive brawl that left over 150 students and faculty members injured.

 

The students alleged they were brutally beaten by outside workers, while the ABGP claimed students disrupted their lawful event and vandalised religious images. Tensions escalated on October 4, 2026, when Hindu Jagran Manch activists marched on the campus, breaching police barricades and throwing stones, resulting in further injuries to police and faculty. In response, the West Bengal government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the violence, while the student body has launched an academic boycott to demand strict security and accountability from the administration.