Kolkata SRFTI Clashes: Special Investigation Team Set Up to Probe September 27 Violence

Following the violent clashes that broke out at Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) on September 27, law enforcement agencies have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the campus unrest and trace those responsible. The high-level inquiry team will investigate the violence that erupted after students protested against an event hosted on campus by the RSS-affiliated consumer outfit, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP).

Escalation on Campus

Tensions mounted rapidly on the afternoon of Sunday, September 27, when members of the SRFTI Students' Union gathered outside the main auditorium to stage a peaceful demonstration. The students objected to the administration granting permission to a political and non-academic entity to hold a private gathering inside an premier public film school. Pointing out historical precedent, student representatives argued that university facilities should not be commercialized or leased out for ideological conventions.

What started as slogan-shouting near the venue quickly degenerated into physical confrontations. Eyewitness accounts and video footage shared widely on social media show heated arguments escalating into pushed barriers, torn promotional banners, and full-blown scuffles. Within hours, the situation spiraled out of control as members of both groups traded blows inside and around the auditorium premises.

At least half a dozen individuals, including students and external attendees, sustained minor to moderate injuries during the melee. Medical teams from nearby healthcare facilities were called in to treat injured students on campus, while four members affiliated with the ABGP required treatment at local hospitals. Heavy police forces were deployed outside the institute’s gates to contain the situation and clear the blockades erected by protesting students.

Contested Claims and Multiple Complaints

Both factions involved in the September 27 clash have put forward sharply contrasting accounts of how the violence unfolded, leading police authorities to register three separate First Information Reports (FIRs).

• The Students' Union Perspective: Protesting students alleged that external organizers and security personnel accompanying the ABGP verbally abused them with derogatory slurs, including calling them "anti-nationals" and "urban Naxals." Union members also alleged that female students were manhandled and faculty members attempting to mediate the altercation were physically targeted. Students have demanded an immediate probe into administrative oversights that allowed external groups entry without campus transparency.

• The ABGP Counter-Claims: Representatives of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat strongly refuted these allegations, claiming they had valid authorization and paid rental agreements for using the auditorium. They alleged that a organized mob of left-aligned students disrupted a peaceful consumer rights convention, destroyed property, vandalized portraits, and physically assaulted attendees without provocation.

Mandate of the Special Investigation Team

In response to the growing public backlash and political pressure surrounding the incident, senior police officers confirmed the formation of a dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT). The specialized task force has been assigned to analyze digital evidence, interview witnesses, and map out the exact sequence of events that led to the breach of peace.

SIT Core Objectives: 1. Digital Forensics: Authenticate CCTV footage and mobile recordings to identify primary aggressors. 2. Administrative Audit: Verify permission logs, security protocols, and entry permissions granted by SRFTI administration. 3. FIR Resolution: Cross-examine evidence against the three registered FIRs filed by both factions.

Investigators have already secured raw video files recorded by witnesses and extracted surveillance footage from security cameras situated around the auditorium entrance. A senior investigating officer noted that the SIT will examine whether external elements were brought onto the campus specifically to provoke violence or if security measures at the central government institute failed to comply with standard safety guidelines.

Campus Aftermath and Policy Review

The clashes have left the prestigious institute under an umbrella of anxiety, raising broader questions about freedom of expression, campus autonomy, and safety protocols across higher education institutions in Kolkata. The SRFTI administration released a brief statement assuring students and parents that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of inciting violence inside the academic space.

Classes and practical workshops were temporarily disrupted following the weekend's chaos as students organized sit-in demonstrations, demanding institutional accountability and tighter rules governing non-academic facility rentals. As the SIT carries out its inquiries, police personnel remain posted outside the university gates to ensure peace and prevent further clashes between rival political groups.