1 day ago
SRFTI Students Face Notices Amid Safety Protests
Some students at a film school have been protesting because they say people attacked them.
They say they do not feel safe enough to attend classes or do their schoolwork normally.
The students have been occupying the vice-chancellor’s office.
A security officer says a student assaulted him while he was asking them to leave.
The school sent several students notices asking them to explain their alleged actions within 48 hours.
The vice-chancellor said this is the normal process when someone files a complaint.
He also said security has improved and students should return to class.
Students say they want their safety concerns addressed first.
Several Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute students received show-cause notices over an alleged assault on a security officer.
The officer reportedly accused a student of pushing and assaulting him while he asked students to leave the vice-chancellor’s office.
Students have 48 hours from receiving their individual notices to respond or the institute may decide based on available records.
Students have been protesting alleged attacks by supporters of RSS-linked organisations on September 27 and October 4.
The vice-chancellor said security had improved and urged students to return to classes, warning that attendance requirements apply for exams.
- Who
- Students at the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, the institute’s vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera, and a security officer.
- What
- Several students were issued show-cause notices over an alleged assault on a security officer as they protest alleged attacks and safety concerns.
- Where
- The Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, including the vice-chancellor’s office and campus.
- When
- The notices followed an October 7 complaint; alleged attacks occurred on September 27 and October 4.
- Why
- The notices followed a security officer’s allegation that a student assaulted him while he asked students to vacate the vice-chancellor’s office; students are protesting over campus safety.
Students’ position
Institute administration’s position
Safety and classes
Students’ position
Students say alleged attacks have left them anxious and unable to attend classes or carry out academic work normally, and say they will not return until safety concerns are addressed.
Institute administration’s position
Vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera said campus security had substantially improved and urged students to resume classes, noting that attendance requirements apply for exams.
Disciplinary notices
Students’ position
A student said students were threatened with disciplinary action before their safety concerns had been addressed.
Institute administration’s position
Ajmera said notices had to be issued after the security officer complained of an alleged assault, describing this as standard procedure and giving students an opportunity to respond.
Key facts
- Response deadline
- 48 hours from receipt of each notice
- Security officer complaint
- Dated October 7
- First reported attack
- September 27; students alleged they were assaulted by supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat
- Second reported incident
- October 4; students alleged Hindu Jagran Manch supporters tried to storm campus gates and threw stones and water bottles
- Class boycott
- Students had been boycotting theoretical classes since September 28
- Vice-chancellor
- Santosh Ajmera
- Institute response
- Ajmera said barricades and police personnel had been in place since October 5 and that attendance requirements apply for semester exams
Quotes
Santosh Ajmera
Vice-chancellor of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute
“Even before our concerns could be addressed, we have been slapped with the threat of disciplinary action for an alleged assault. After September 27, we were again attacked on October 4 by members of the Hindu Jagran Manch. This happened despite the SRFTI administration being alerted by students. We have legitimate grounds to protest. The SRFTI administration has failed us.”
telegraphindia.com
“The security situation has substantially improved, with the campus ringed by layers of barricades and police personnel since October 5. We have to look forward, and students must join classes. Students who fail to meet the required attendance percentage for a semester will not be allowed to sit for their exams.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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