Kolkata, Oct. 4 -- Tension prevailed outside the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) on Sunday after a rally by the Bangiya Hindu Jagran Manch reached the institute gate, with protesters allegedly attempting to break it open and enter the campus. Police intervened, leading to a scuffle in which two police personnel were reportedly injured. There were also allegations that a student from another institute was assaulted.
The rally started from Ajaynagar and proceeded towards SRFTI. Police had barricaded the approach to the institute and deployed personnel outside the gate. The barricades were reportedly removed by protesters, who then reached the main gate, where some allegedly tried to break it open, prompting police to intervene and leading to a scuffle.
Inside the campus, bottles and bricks were allegedly thrown towards students and teachers, who were seen trying to ward them off. Students raised counter-slogans as police pulled several protesters away from the gate. The two groups were kept apart by police for an hour.
A person identifying himself as a Kolkata Police Special Branch personnel alleged that he was beaten during the confrontation and suffered bleeding from his nose and mouth. He also claimed that his mobile phone and watch went missing. A protester, however, denied that any police personnel was assaulted.
The protest followed the September 27 clash at SRFTI during an event organised by Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, an RSS-linked organisation. Both students and ABGP members had levelled allegations of assault against each other.
A Hindu Jagran Manch member said the protest was against the alleged disrespect of images of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda during the incident and said the organisation would continue its demonstration over the issue. Protesters recited the Hanuman Chalisa and raised slogans.
Three saffron flags were put up at the institute gate by protesters. After students removed them, protesters returned and put up two more flags. Images of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda were also placed near the gate.
A heavy police deployment remained outside SRFTI even after the protesters dispersed.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.