The Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata's Panchasayar area was plunged into fresh turmoil on Sunday, 4 October, after members of the Hindu Jagran Manch broke through police barricades and attempted to force entry into the campus. The standoff, which involved stone-pelting from both sides and clashes with police, is the second major flashpoint at the premier film institute within a single week.

How the Confrontation Unfolded

A procession organised by the Hindu Jagran Manch set out from Ajay Nagar and marched toward the SRFTI campus. Police had anticipated trouble and erected barricades while shutting all campus entry gates in advance. However, the procession reportedly broke through the barricades and advanced to the main gate, where members shook the gate and demanded it be opened.

Students had gathered inside the campus near the gate. According to student accounts, bricks and stones were hurled at those assembled within the premises. Counter-allegations were levelled against the students for throwing projectiles in return. The students also alleged that posters of B.R. Ambedkar hung on the gate were torn during the unrest.

When procession members reached the gate, they reportedly clashed with police personnel. Officers physically removed some of them from the site. Members of the Hindu Jagran Manch expressed sharp anger at the police response. After an extended period of unrest, the situation was brought under control. Police remained deployed outside the SRFTI gate as of the evening.

The September 27 Incident That Triggered Sunday's March

Sunday's mobilisation was directly linked to a confrontation at the same campus on 27 September, when an organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — identified as Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), West Bengal — had organised a programme on campus. Students who protested that event alleged they were assaulted by members of the Sangh-linked group.

The Hindu Jagran Manch called Sunday's march explicitly as a counter-protest to the 27 September episode. According to the organisation's members, students at SRFTI had on that day allegedly desecrated images of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda — a charge the organisation cited as its primary grievance. One member of the group was quoted as saying, 'I will explain to the students what the power of the nationalists is.' Students and institute representatives have not publicly confirmed or refuted the specific allegation.

Pattern of Unrest at a Premier Institution

SRFTI, which is under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has been a recurring site of ideological confrontation between student bodies and right-wing organisations. Sunday's violence marks the second major incident in eight days, signalling a sustained escalation rather than an isolated episode. Notably, the institute's campus has become a flashpoint at a time of broader political tension in West Bengal, where the rivalry between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP-aligned groups has intensified ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The involvement of police barricades that were subsequently breached raises questions about crowd management and the adequacy of pre-emptive security measures at the site.

Current Situation and What Comes Next

As of Sunday evening, the situation at SRFTI had stabilised with a continued police presence at the gate. No official injury count or formal complaint detail had been released at the time of this report. Authorities had not confirmed any arrests. The institute administration had not issued a public statement. Further action — including potential police cases filed by either side — is expected in the coming days, and the episode is likely to draw responses from political parties across the spectrum in West Bengal.