Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Hindu Jagaran Manch Rally Sparks Confrontation Outside Kolkata Film Institute
On Sunday, October 4, a group called the Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch marched to a film and television institute in Kolkata.
Police stopped the group from entering the campus.
Reports say some marchers pushed at the gate and stones and water bottles were thrown inside, though accounts differ about who threw them.
Students and staff said people were hurt, and one report said a professor was hit by a brick.
The Manch said it was protesting what it called disrespect to pictures of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda at a campus event on September 27.
Students said the earlier trouble began after they objected to that event and that they had warned officials about the march.
The institute condemned violence, filed a complaint and said it was improving security.
Students continued their class boycott and called for arrests and better protection.
Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch supporters marched to SRFTI on Sunday, October 4, and police prevented them from entering.
Accounts say some protesters pushed against the gate, broke a police barricade, and threw stones and water bottles into the campus; the group disputed responsibility for some of the objects thrown.
Students and staff reported injuries; reports included minor student injuries, Professor Debashis Sensharma reportedly struck by a brick, and a police officer reportedly injured.
The Manch said its protest concerned alleged disrespect to images of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda during a September 27 campus event; students said they were attacked after objecting to that event.
SRFTI condemned violence, said it filed a formal complaint and was strengthening security; students continued an academic boycott and sought arrests and protection.
- Who
- Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch supporters, SRFTI students and staff, and police.
- What
- A protest outside SRFTI became confrontational as police blocked entry; reports differ on who threw objects and the extent of injuries.
- When
- Sunday, October 4, 2026; the earlier campus clash was on September 27.
- Where
- Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
- Why
- The Manch said it was protesting alleged disrespect to images of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda during the September 27 event. Students said they had objected to the event and were attacked.
Students’ and Institute’s Accounts
Manch’s Claims
Responsibility for objects thrown
Students’ and Institute’s Accounts
Students and staff said stones and water bottles were thrown into the campus; reports also described injuries.
Manch’s Claims
Manch representatives disputed that their supporters threw the objects, and members alleged that water bottles were thrown from inside. The accounts do not establish responsibility conclusively.
What happened on September 27
Students’ and Institute’s Accounts
Students said they objected to the ABGP event and alleged that participants attacked them; they said images or banners were torn after the confrontation.
Manch’s Claims
The Manch said students disrupted the event and disrespected images of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda.
Student safety and accountability
Students’ and Institute’s Accounts
Students said officials had been warned about the march, called for arrests and better protection, and continued an academic boycott.
Manch’s Claims
The Manch described its rally as a protest over the alleged disrespect to the images. SRFTI condemned violence, filed a complaint and said it was taking steps to strengthen security.
- Protesting group
- Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch, also called Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Mancha or Bangiyo Hindu Jagaran Manch in reports
- Institute
- Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata
- Protest date
- Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Earlier campus incident
- A September 27 clash involving students and participants in an Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat event
- Police response
- Police blocked entry, intervened during the confrontation, and said CCTV footage would be examined to identify those involved
- Reported injuries
- Reports described minor student injuries, Professor Debashis Sensharma reportedly hit by a brick, and a police officer reportedly injured; the Manch also claimed some of its supporters were hurt
- Responses
- SRFTI said it filed a formal complaint and was strengthening security; students continued an academic boycott and demanded arrests and protection
Sources
Week after violence at Kolkata film institute, Hindutva group marches to campus, throws stones
Hindu Jagaran Manch rally pushes against SRFTI gate, tries to enter
Kolkata SRFTI protest: Police prevent entry as group seeks to demonstrate over Sept 27 clash - Telegraph India
Bottle missiles & stones at SRFTI as group seeks to teach 'dimagi Naxals' a 'lesson'
SRFTI Slams Saffron Body's Bid to Storm Campus, Voices Concerns
