Kolkata film institute suspends classes for sixth day after campus violence

Classes at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata were suspended for the sixth day on Saturday as students continued their “academic boycott” over an alleged attack by members of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated organisation on the campus, reported PTI.

The RSS, a Hindutva organisation, is the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

On September 27, at least six students were injured after being attacked for objecting to an event organised by members of the RSS-affiliated consumer group Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat.

The students’ union had stated that it was not informed about the event before the institute gave permission.

Poorvi Bondre, a member of the union, told Deutsche Welle that students confronted participants of the event after learning that the organisers were affiliated with the RSS and using the event to “promote its agenda” on campus.

“They called us anti-nationals and Naxals and attacked us with knives,” Bondre said.

Some students were also chased while others had their clothes torn and phones forcibly taken, the union had stated

Students have since been boycotting classes, demanding heightened security on campus and that those responsible for the violence be arrested, reported PTI.

The Kolkata Police is reportedly deployed outside the main gate of the campus.

“Authorities want us to shoot outside the campus in a bid to resume academic activities,” PTI quoted...

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