SRFTI Students Allege Power Cut Amid Ongoing Campus Protest as Institute Denies Targeting Protesters
Students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata have alleged that electricity to a classroom used for internet connectivity and workstation facilities was disconnected during their ongoing campus protest. The allegation has added to tensions between students and the institute administration over campus security, access to basic facilities and disciplinary action against protesters.
The students claimed that the power supply to the classroom had been disconnected on the evening of October 24, further restricting their access to facilities they relied on during the agitation. They alleged that the move was intended to pressure them into ending their protest.
The institute has denied deliberately targeting students for participating in the agitation. A senior official disputed the protesters' claims and pointed out that students had continued livestreaming their activities, including a press conference, from the campus.
The disagreement comes amid a wider dispute over alleged campus violence, student safety and disciplinary proceedings initiated against six students.
Students Raise Concerns About Access to Basic Facilities
The protesters said the alleged electricity disconnection made it more difficult for them to access the classroom facilities needed for internet connectivity and workstation use.
They had previously raised concerns about restrictions on access to basic amenities, including washrooms and other campus facilities. Students have described these restrictions as an additional hardship during the ongoing agitation.
The allegations form part of a broader dispute between students and the administration over the handling of campus unrest. The protesters have argued that the institute should ensure access to essential facilities while addressing their concerns about safety and accountability.
However, the administration has disputed claims that it is deliberately targeting students because they are participating in a protest. The two sides have offered different accounts of the circumstances surrounding the restrictions and the institute's response to the agitation.
The allegations concerning the classroom power supply have not, in the reports available, been independently established.
Why Are SRFTI Students Protesting?
Students have been staging an indefinite sit in outside the office of Vice Chancellor Santosh Ajmera since October 12. Their demands include his resignation, accountability for alleged violence on campus and stronger measures to ensure student safety.
The agitation followed clashes on September 27 during an event organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, a consumer awareness organisation. Several students were reportedly injured in the incident.
Tensions escalated again on October 4, when members of the Bangiyo Hindu Jagaran Mancha held a demonstration outside the institute over the earlier incident. Students alleged that stones, bricks and bottles were thrown towards the campus.
The West Bengal government subsequently constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the September 27 violence.
Students have maintained that the institute administration failed to ensure their safety and have demanded an independent investigation and accountability for those allegedly involved in the incidents.
The administration's response and the disciplinary action taken against some students have become additional points of contention.
Institute Defends Disciplinary Action Against Six Students
The institute has defended its decision to rusticate six students for one year and issue show cause notices to students over alleged violations of institutional rules.
In a statement issued on October 25, the administration said the disciplinary proceedings concerned alleged misconduct, vandalism, defacement and physical assault rather than peaceful protest itself.
According to the institute, the action followed recommendations from the Dean's Council and a fact finding committee examining the incidents. The administration also referred to alleged damage to the vice chancellor's office, including broken windowpanes and damaged furniture.
The institute further alleged that water and air conditioning lines had been deliberately damaged and that the vice chancellor had been manhandled. These claims form part of the administration's stated justification for initiating disciplinary proceedings.
The students and the administration have disputed aspects of the events and the subsequent response. The allegations should therefore be distinguished from findings established through an independent investigation or legal proceedings.
The institute has maintained that it supports students' right to express grievances and participate in peaceful protests, while insisting that alleged violations of campus rules must be addressed.
Academic Activities Suspended Until November 13
The continuing dispute has affected academic activities at SRFTI. On October 16, the institute suspended regular academic activities in its Film and Electronic and Digital Media departments until November 13.
Students were also directed to vacate hostels and other campus premises within the stipulated period. However, some protesters continued their sit in despite the directive.
The administration said the restrictions were intended to restore normalcy and allow the institute to resume its regular functioning. Students, meanwhile, have argued that the measures have compounded the difficulties faced by those participating in the agitation.
The suspension has added pressure on both sides to find a way forward, particularly as the dispute concerns not only disciplinary matters but also student safety and access to academic facilities.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus remains on the students' demands for accountability, the investigation into the campus incidents and the administration's handling of the protest.
The West Bengal government's investigation into the September 27 clashes may provide further information about the events that triggered the dispute. Meanwhile, the institute's disciplinary proceedings and the students' objections remain unresolved in the reports available.
The institute has indicated that it will assess the situation by November 13 before deciding on further steps. The status of academic activities and campus access will therefore remain important issues in the coming weeks.
For now, the alleged classroom power cut has added another point of disagreement to an already tense campus situation. A clear account of the electricity issue, transparent handling of the investigation and communication between students and the administration could help clarify the outstanding concerns.
Until further details emerge, the power cut allegation should be attributed to the students, while the institute's denial and explanation of its disciplinary action should also be included for a balanced report.
