‘Anti-national’ slurs, vandalism claims, 3 FIRs: Inside Kolkata campus clash - The Indian Express

Amid palpable tension prevailing on the campus of Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), a day after it witnessed clashes over an RSS-linked outfit’s event, three FIRs were registered on Monday – two against “unknown students” and one against “unknown persons”.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, the Kolkata Police filed an FIR against unknown students. Another FIR, registered on a complaint filed by Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), the RSS-linked outfit, also named “unknown students”.

Only the FIR, based on a complaint lodged by SRFTI Dean (Film) Sukanta Majumder, was filed against “unknown persons”.

All three FIRs more or less include BNS sections of wrongful restraint, assault on public servants, voluntarily causing harm, and criminal intimidation.

In the police complaint, filed by SRFTI Dean (Film) Sukanta Majumder, it has been alleged that unknown people wrongfully restrained the students and two faculty members of the institute, voluntarily caused hurt, insulted women students’ modesty, and also threatened them.

In the suo motu FIR lodged by the police, unknown students have been accused of wrongfully restraining police personnel, manhandling them to deter them from discharging their duties, and breaking the window panes of a government vehicle.

The third FIR, filed on a complaint by ABGP, the outfit’s state unit leader, Anjan Sinha, has alleged that unknown SRFTI students gheraoed the organisation’s members from 2.15 pm to 7.30 pm on Sunday, when they had gone to the campus to hold the event.

Sinha alleged that the SRFTI students “wrongfully restrained and verbally abused” their members “and made gestures to insult the modesty of female activists”. He also alleged that students vandalised the photos of Bharat Maa, Goddess Durga, and Swami Vivekananda, and made derogatory remarks about their organisation.

Sources in the police sources said they were looking into CCTV footage to identify those involved in the violence and the exact reason behind it.

The clashes took place over the ABGP event on the campus. The RSS-linked outfit had booked an auditorium for an “awareness” programme. Sources said that a group of students objected to the posters and banners put up by the outfit around the campus, leading to the clash.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the students’ union said that after they objected to the ABGP event, they were assaulted and called “anti-nationals”, urban naxals and terrorists, leading to a scuffle. “Members of the ABGP attacked students, including women students, punched and kicked them, and pelted stones and bricks at them. Students were chased through the campus… The library was surrounded, leaving students and staff in a situation of fear inside their own institute,” the students’ union said in a statement.

Tensions continued till late at night as police cordoned off the campus.

On Monday, the students held a silent vigil, carrying photos of Dr B R Ambedkar. There were no reports of any untoward incidents with students attending classes, and there were no gatherings of outsiders in front of the institute’s gate.

“Today the situation is normal. Outsiders have dispersed, while students have resumed classes,” an SRFTI official said.

West Bengal Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay said no one involved in the violence would be spared, and insult to Swami Vivekananda or Bharat Mata would not be tolerated.

Speaking to reporters after an event, Chattopadhyay said violence of any kind had no place in educational institutions.”Any kind of violence in an educational institution is condemnable. It is not desirable. But if, as I saw in the visuals, Swami Vivekananda’s picture or Bharat Mata’s picture was kicked during the altercation between the two sides, then we must understand that we are passing through a terrible situation,” he said.

“We will change this culture in educational institutions. No Bengali student can kick a picture of Vivekananda. This culture will not be tolerated,” the minister said.

On Sunday, BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar had said, “This has become a familiar pattern: create disruption, insult symbols revered by Bharatiyas, and then portray oneself as the victim when questioned about it. What is equally disturbing is the attempt by sections of the so-called liberal and intellectual establishment to indirectly justify or overlook such behaviour. The people of Bengal and India deserve to see this for what it is. How much longer will such open disrespect for Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda be tolerated?”

The SRFTI Alumni Association (SAA) also condemned the incident. “We express absolute outrage and unequivocally condemn the barbaric violence unleashed upon the students, faculty, and staff of SRFTI within the very sanctum of the institute. What began as a peaceful registration of dissent by the students regarding a program organised by the ABGP was met with a terrifying, disproportionate, and criminal display of brutality. Instead of engaging in dialogue, the organizers took immediate recourse to armed physical assault to silence our students. This horrific normalization of violence represents a dark and dangerous rot in the times we are living in.”

The RSS students’ outfit, the ABVP, however, has distanced itself from the incident. “The ABVP is not associated with this matter. Whatever has happened there, the police will investigate,” said ABVP state in-charge Ananta Barui.

The ABGP on its website stated that it was founded by RSS functionary Bindu Madhav Joshi in the late 1970s. “Joshi, along with other eminent personalities like Sudhir Phadke, P L Deshpande, Prof Dandekar, G V Behere, and other activists joined together to create Yuvak Mahamandal Janata Grahak Sangh… The formal inauguration of ABGP was done on December 23, 1975, at the hands of then Justice MC Chagla,” the website stated.

Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience  Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More