SRFTI students vow to protest through Durga Puja over six expulsions
Synopsis
Even as Kolkata celebrates Durga Puja, SRFTI students are refusing to stand down — vowing to carry their protest through the festive days over the expulsion of six peers, suspended classes, and a hostel lockout. With legal action being planned and no FIR yet filed against the alleged campus attackers, the standoff at one of India's most prestigious film schools is far from over.
Key Takeaways
SRFTI students in Kolkata have decided to continue protests through the Durga Puja holidays, demanding revocation of six expulsions .
Classes at the institute have been suspended until 13 November ; hostel residents were asked to vacate within 24 hours and mess services have been halted.
The expulsions relate to the 27 September clashes between ABGP members and students, after which students were accused of heckling officials, ransacking Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera's office, and writing graffiti.
The SRFTI Students' Union has called the expulsions baseless and is preparing to mount a legal challenge.
A second protest outside the institute's main gate on 4 October by another Hindutva-affiliated outfit prompted students to launch a sit-in demanding the vice-chancellor's removal.
No FIR has been filed against those accused of the original campus attack, a key grievance cited by the students.
Students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata have resolved to sustain their demonstrations through the Durga Puja festive period, demanding that the institute's management revoke the expulsion of six students found guilty of misconduct during a series of on-campus incidents. The decision was announced on 17 October 2026 even as the standoff between students and administration deepened.
What Triggered the Crisis
The disciplinary action stems from clashes on 27 September between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) and SRFTI students while the organisation was holding a programme on campus. The confrontation left several people injured. In its aftermath, students began blocking outsiders from entering the premises and boycotted classes, demanding improved security arrangements.
The situation escalated further on 4 October, when another Hindutva-affiliated group staged a demonstration outside the institute's main gate. Students responded with a sit-in outside the administrative building, calling for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera. That sit-in was in its sixth day at the time of the latest developments.
The Expulsions and Their Fallout
Institute management expelled six students, holding them guilty of allegedly physically heckling SRFTI officials — including Vice-Chancellor Ajmera — ransacking his office, and writing objectionable graffiti on campus walls. Alongside the expulsions, classes have been suspended until 13 November, hostel residents have been ordered to vacate within 24 hours, and mess services have been shut down.
The SRFTI Students' Union has flatly rejected the charges, maintaining that the expelled students were participating in peaceful protests following the 27 September clashes and were not involved in the alleged violations. 'We are taking preparations to legally challenge these expulsions. At the same time, we will continue with our protest even during the Durga Puja days,' a students' union representative said.
The Administration's Position
The vice-chancellor's office has defended the disciplinary action, asserting that it was initiated strictly in response to serious breaches of institute rules, particularly the ransacking of administrative offices. Officials have rejected the characterisation of the expulsions as unwarranted or politically motivated.
Students, however, allege that the administration is projecting an impression of normalcy while leaving core issues unresolved — including the absence of an independent investigation into the campus attack, no FIR against the alleged aggressors from 27 September, unresolved hostel concerns, and allegations of institutional discrimination.
What Happens Next
The students' union is actively exploring legal avenues to challenge the expulsions, and protest activity is expected to continue through the Puja holiday period. With classes suspended until mid-November and hostel access cut off, the standoff has placed a significant strain on academic life at one of India's premier film training institutions. A negotiated resolution between the two sides remains elusive.
Point of View
Suspend classes, and shut hostels simultaneously, rather than first concluding an independent inquiry, has handed the students a credible grievance: that institutional force is being used as a substitute for due process. The absence of an FIR against those who allegedly triggered the original violence on 27 September is a glaring asymmetry that no administration can easily explain away. If the standoff persists into November, it risks lasting damage to SRFTI's reputation as a nurturing creative space — and raises harder questions about who governs India's cultural institutions and to what end.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are SRFTI students protesting?
SRFTI students are protesting the expulsion of six peers whom the institute's management found guilty of heckling officials, ransacking the vice-chancellor's office, and painting graffiti on campus walls. The students' union maintains the expulsions are unjustified and that the six were engaged in peaceful demonstrations following the 27 September campus clashes.
What happened during the 27 September clashes at SRFTI?
Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) were holding a programme on the SRFTI campus when a confrontation broke out between the organisers and students, leaving several people injured. Students subsequently blocked outside entry to the campus and boycotted classes, demanding adequate security measures.
What disciplinary action has the SRFTI management taken?
Management expelled six students and suspended all classes until 13 November. Students living in hostels were directed to vacate the campus within 24 hours, and mess services were also suspended following the disciplinary proceedings.
Are the students planning any legal action over the expulsions?
Yes. The SRFTI Students' Union has stated it is actively preparing to legally challenge the expulsions in court. At the same time, the union has pledged to maintain its protest through the Durga Puja festive period.
What are the students' key demands beyond reversing the expulsions?
Beyond revoking the six expulsions, students are demanding an independent investigation into the 27 September campus attack, the filing of an FIR against the alleged perpetrators, the removal of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera, and resolution of hostel and alleged discrimination issues on campus.
