The Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute on Friday suspended academic activities until November 13 and directed students to “vacate hostels and other spaces” within 24 hours. The order came as students continued their class boycott to protest attacks allegedly by RSS-linked organisations.
The order, signed by registrar Deepak Kumar and issued at 6pm, said: “In view of the ensuing festive period and associated administrative requirements, the competent authority has decided to implement the following regulatory measures in the interest of the orderly functioning of the institute.”
“All regular academic activities of the film wing and the electronic and digital media (EDM) wing shall remain suspended until 13 November, 2026, unless otherwise directed by the competent authority... All students occupying institute premises, including hostel and other spaces, are directed to vacate such premises within 24 hours of the issuance of this order.”
Hostel mess services will be suspended until November 13, it said.
“All students shall comply with this order and lawful directions issued by the competent authorities. Any wilful obstruction of official functioning or deliberate violation of lawful directions shall be dealt with in accordance with the application regulations and academic by-laws. Disciplinary and/or legal action may be initiated, wherever warranted, in accordance with the applicable rules and procedure,” the order said.
Deans, heads of departments, hostel wardens, the security officer and other officials have been directed to ensure the order is implemented, and document and report instances of non-compliance.
The directive came a day after the institute rusticated six students on charges of manhandling, heckling and verbally abusing vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera during a protest on Thursday.
Students said the order to vacate the hostels within 24 hours was unfair, particularly because many had travelled from different parts of the country to study at the residential institute.
“What is our fault? We simply protested the attacks by the RSS-linked organisations. The SRFTI administration failed to deliver justice. We never heckled the VC while carrying out a peaceful protest,” said Sudip Chakraborty, a student.
The class boycott began on September 28, a day after students were assaulted on campus allegedly by supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat. On October 4, supporters of the Hindu Jagran Manch allegedly tried to storm the campus gate.
At a news conference on Friday, students accused the administration of taking punitive action against protesters instead of holding those responsible for the attacks accountable.
“This is why there is no discussion by the SRFTI administration about punishing those who attacked students on September 27 and October 4,” said Akangsha, a student.
Aron, one of the six rusticated students, alleged that the incidents were not isolated but part of “an organised attack on academic campuses by the RSS”.
“The VC is attacking because we are spearheading the protest against the RSS-led oppression. He is the biggest oppressor on the campus,” he said.
Ajmera told Metro: “Being a public servant, guided by the Constitution of India, as VC, my mandate is to uphold the vision of SRFTI as an institution of excellence, dedicated to creativity, artistic values and individual talent. My focus remains on the welfare of the institute and its academic community.”
The students’ union said that rustication and other coercive measures would not force them to return to classes.
A student said that the VC had failed to prevent the attacks, in which at least four students were injured, and had not fixed accountability for the security lapses. “Following the back-to-back attacks, we are not being able to invite actors for our short films. They are hesitant about visiting the campus. Yet the VC wants us to believe that we are safe,” Pragya, a student, said.
Tarique, another student, said he had been staying on campus since September 27 because he felt unsafe in rented accommodation. “Now I have to vacate the hostel,” he said.
Despite being a residential institute, SRFTI does not have enough hostel accommodation, forcing first-year students to live outside.
Days after the September 27 incident, the Bengal government formed a special investigation team (SIT). Campus sources said the team was also probing the October 4 attack. The SIT has submitted its first report, but no arrests have been made.