The clash at SRFTI
Kolkata: SRFTI Students’ Union on Thursday issued a letter to VC Santosh Ajmera condemning the unauthorised entry of police, the arbitrary barring of invited guest film-makers while allowing delivery personnel on Oct 27, and ongoing student intimidation. The students’ union has given a 48-hour deadline to withdraw internal police personnel, furnish all police requisitions, justify the entry restrictions, provide written assurances against disciplinary action against peaceful assembly, and preserve all relevant CCTV footage, registers, and communications.
Despite repeated requests by both faculty and students to remove cops from campus, the administration said the decision rests with the police department. Ajmera said, “Our faculty is engaging in dialogue with students and helping restore normalcy on campus. On Thursday, the administration rubbished students’ allegation about a “fresh deployment of cops” on campus.
Failure to comply will result in legal action, the letter stated. Additionally, all rusticated students have individually sent legal notices to SRFTI authorities demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of rustication orders. The students’ union also condemned campus surveillance, highlighting two incidents — a security guard caught covertly recording students, and police deployed for Ajmera’s protection who continue photographing students after his office hours are over. “We are highly sensitive about the police presence on campus. The police department will review the situation periodically and take necessary action,” Kumar added.