SRFTI campus erupts in violence as students, right-wing group clash upon being called 'cockroaches'

A programme organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) at Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) descended into violence on Sunday after students objected to the presence of outsiders and questioned why the institute had permitted a private organisation to use its auditorium. Several people were reportedly injured as students and ABGP members clashed, with both sides accusing the other of assault and police being deployed outside the campus.

The SRFTI Student Union alleged that students had not been informed about the programme before permission was granted and claimed some speakers made provocative remarks during the event. ABGP, however, maintained that it had formally hired the auditorium with the institute’s permission and accused students of disrupting the programme and tearing down its posters and banners.

Posters trigger confrontation

The ABGP programme began around 10 am, but tensions rose after students questioned the presence of people from outside the institute on campus. Students subsequently put up posters near the auditorium protesting against the event, leading to an argument between them and members of the organisation.

The students’ association alleged that ABGP members called students “anti-national”, “cockroaches”, “urban Naxals” and “terrorists” during the confrontation. It further alleged that female students were manhandled and that students were physically attacked after raising objections to the programme.

One student claimed practical classes had been scheduled in the auditorium and said they protested after finding an outside organisation conducting a programme there. According to the student, the confrontation escalated after posters were put up against the event, forcing some students to retreat towards the hostel.

An institute teacher also reportedly alleged that he and some colleagues were assaulted while attempting to intervene. The students’ body claimed that around 150 students remained on the campus following the violence and alleged they had been surrounded by people associated with the organisation.

ABGP denies allegations

ABGP rejected the students’ version and alleged that its members were attacked without provocation after students disrupted the programme. The organisation said it had obtained permission from the institute authorities and paid Rs 15,000 to hire the auditorium.

An ABGP representative said the organisation primarily worked on consumer protection and awareness and claimed students tore down posters and banners before disrupting the programme. The group alleged that several of its members were injured and said four had been admitted to hospital.

The organisation also accused students of preventing some of its members from leaving the campus after the confrontation. With both sides giving sharply different accounts, the circumstances in which the physical clash began remained contested.

Police deployed at campus

Police were deployed outside SRFTI as tensions persisted following the confrontation. Students alleged that six police personnel had detained some of those accused of assault in a police vehicle, while people gathered outside the campus demanded their release.

Students also accused police personnel of recording the names and addresses of complainants instead of immediately registering cases against those accused of assault. They staged a protest around a police vehicle and demanded FIRs over the alleged attacks.

An SRFTI official said the administration was closely monitoring the situation and confirmed that police had been deployed outside the institute. The official said no serious injuries had been reported among students and that the situation was under control.

Campus permission questioned

Beyond the immediate violence, students have questioned the institute administration’s decision to allow an outside organisation to conduct the programme. The Student Union maintained that the student body had not been informed before permission was granted and demanded answers from the administration over access to the campus and use of the auditorium.

ABGP, on the other hand, maintained that it had followed the required procedure and had been formally permitted to conduct the programme. The competing allegations have left the institute facing questions over both the violence and the circumstances under which the event was organised.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap also reacted to the confrontation after sharing a statement issued by the SRFTI Student Union on social media. The institute administration and police will now have to examine the rival allegations, including claims of assault, manhandling and damage to posters and banners, to establish the sequence of events.