SRFTI Kolkata row escalates: VC's office vandalised, registrar says he was manhandled
Representative image: Pupochek / Pixabay
Students at Kolkata's Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute demand VC Santosh Ajmera's removal; the institute says his office was vandalised on October 14 and he was manhandled on October 15.
What Happened
The stand-off between students and the new head of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata turned sharper this week. According to a statement from the institute, stones were thrown at Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera's office on Wednesday night, October 14, 2026, breaking windows, and the office's water and air-conditioning lines were cut. The next day, Thursday, October 15, registrar Deepak Kumar alleged that after a meeting a student manhandled the vice-chancellor while others surrounded him in a gherao and abused him. Ajmera, who took charge about two weeks ago, called the incident unacceptable. Students have been protesting for his removal, saying the campus is unsafe, and are also demanding that disciplinary notices against them be withdrawn and that an independent inquiry be held into recent violence on campus.
Key Facts
- Institute: Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata.
- Vice-Chancellor: Santosh Ajmera, who took charge about 15 days ago.
- October 14 (night): the institute says stones were thrown at the VC's office, windows were smashed and water and AC lines were cut.
- October 15: registrar Deepak Kumar alleged a student manhandled the VC after a meeting while others gheraoed and abused him.
- Student demands: the VC's resignation, withdrawal of disciplinary notices and an independent probe into campus violence, including clashes involving RSS-linked groups.
- Students have also accused the authorities of diluting police complaints and threatening action against protesters.
Why It Matters
SRFTI is a public film school named after the director Satyajit Ray. Any long disruption at a small, specialised institute like this hits classes, film projects and the academic calendar for every batch on campus.
The dispute is also about campus safety and how complaints are handled. Students say recent clashes on campus, including ones involving groups linked to the RSS, have left them feeling unsafe, and they want an independent probe rather than an internal inquiry. They accuse the authorities of watering down police complaints and of using disciplinary notices to silence protest. The administration, for its part, says it has faced vandalism and that its vice-chancellor was physically targeted.
The accounts of the latest incidents come largely from the institute's statement and its registrar; the students' version of the meeting on Thursday has not been reported in detail. With both sides hardening, the next step is likely to depend on whether the institute's governing body steps in to mediate.
| SRFTI dispute: timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| About two weeks ago | Santosh Ajmera takes charge as VC |
| October 14 (night) | VC's office damaged, institute says |
| October 15 | Registrar alleges VC manhandled after meeting |
| Student demands | VC's exit, notices withdrawn, independent probe |
Impact
Short-term: The stand-off is likely to keep disrupting campus life until the two sides talk. The institute may file police complaints over the vandalism and the alleged assault, while students press for an outside inquiry.
Long-term: How the dispute ends will shape relations between students and the new leadership, and may influence how complaints of campus violence are handled at other institutes.
Who is affected: Students and faculty at SRFTI; applicants planning to join the institute; the institute's administration; and the wider film and media education community in India.
Key Takeaway
The SRFTI protest has escalated from demands for the new vice-chancellor's removal to allegations of vandalism and assault, with students seeking an independent probe into campus violence and the institute citing attacks on its head.
Questions and Answers
Why are SRFTI students protesting?
Students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata want Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera to resign over campus safety, disciplinary notices against them to be withdrawn, and an independent probe into recent campus violence.
What happened to the SRFTI vice-chancellor's office?
The institute said stones were thrown at the VC's office on the night of October 14, 2026, breaking windows, and that water and air-conditioning lines were cut.
Was the SRFTI vice-chancellor attacked?
Registrar Deepak Kumar alleged that after a meeting on October 15, a student manhandled Santosh Ajmera while others gheraoed and abused him. Ajmera called it unacceptable. The students' account of the meeting has not been reported in detail.
How long has Santosh Ajmera been SRFTI's vice-chancellor?
He took charge about 15 days before the incidents, according to reports.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Air India to fly Delhi-Osaka non-stop from February 2, 2027, its second Japan city
Ambedkar University Delhi suspends 10 students, including elected reps, over protest
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
