SRFTI writes to parents, seeks students’ exit amid campus unrest

The Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute has written to parents, asking them to facilitate students’ departure from campus.

The email from SRFTI’s tutorial section said: “In view of the recent developments on campus and the need to ensure the orderly functioning of the institute, certain administrative measures have been introduced... These include the suspension of regular academic activities of the film wing and electronic and digital media (EDM) until 13 November, unless otherwise directed...”

“In this regard, we earnestly seek your cooperation in advising and facilitating the return of your wards to their respective homes or other suitable places of stay, and in ensuring that they comply with the direction to vacate the institute premises...”

The mail was sent after students refused to leave the campus within 24 hours of a notice issued on Friday directing them to do so. More than 100 residential students said the short notice was unreasonable and violated their rights.

SRFTI vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera said the email was sent to “facilitate the return” of students because academic activities had been suspended until November 13.

“On behalf of the SRFTI administration, we are bound to update parents about the prevalent situation on campus. If we don’t alert parents, we will be failing in our duties,” an institute official said.

The mail said: “We wish to assure you that these measures have been taken with the objective of restoring normalcy, maintaining an orderly atmosphere on the campus and facilitating the resumption of normal academic activities in a conducive atmosphere.”

The directive to vacate the campus came a day after SRFTI rusticated six students over charges of manhandling, heckling and verbally abusing Ajmera during a protest.

Students said that the order to leave was unfair. They said they had been boycotting classes since September 28 to protest attacks allegedly carried out by RSS-linked organisations. “What is our fault? We are simply boycotting classes to protest the attacks. The SRFTI administration failed to deliver justice. We never heckled the VC while carrying out a peaceful protest,” a student said.

On September 27, SRFTI students were attacked, allegedly by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat. Students began boycotting classes the following day. On October 4, supporters of the Hindu Jagran Manch allegedly attempted to storm the campus.

“The institute authorities are now trying to trigger panic among parents so they pressure us to vacate the hostel. Instead of indulging in such pressure tactics, the authorities should have pressured the police to arrest those who attacked us,” a student said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the attacks.