Called us ‘cockroaches’, ‘anti-national’: Kolkata's SRFTI students, right-wing group clash during event

Clashes erupted at Kolkata's Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) on Sunday afternoon after a group of students objected to an event organized by a right-wing group, leaving several people injured. A large number of police personnel were deployed as a protesting mob gathered outside the locked campus gate. The SRFTI Students' Union claimed they were assaulted and called derogatory names by the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an RSS-linked group, when they protested against the event in the main theatre.

The ABGP allegedly attacked students, including women, and pelted stones and bricks at them. The students sought refuge in the library, but the group followed them inside, leading the librarian to be assaulted as well. The library was surrounded, causing fear among students and staff. Police intervened to allow injured students to be taken to the hospital, but protesters blocked the ambulance.

The ABGP had booked the auditorium for an "awareness" program, and put up posters and banners, while the students allege they tore the banners and caused the scuffle. ABGP member Basudeb Paul stated they were holding the program when the students tore the banners, called the Prime Minister and Chief Minister names, and shouted slogans against the BJP.

Several BJP leaders protested outside the campus, demanding the arrest of students. The state secretary of the Left-backed Students' Federation in India (SFI) accused the RSS-backed outfit of attacking free-thinking institutions, while RSS students' outfit the ABVP distanced itself from the incident, urging the police to investigate.