Students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) continued their academic boycott on Saturday, resulting in the suspension of classes for the sixth consecutive day. The students are demanding the arrest of those they hold responsible for the September 27 clash on the campus and assurances regarding their safety.

Classes at the institute have remained suspended since the confrontation between students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an RSS-affiliated consumer awareness organisation, on September 27. An SRFTI official said the institute was holding discussions with students, police and the administration to facilitate the resumption of academic activities, while Kolkata Police personnel remained deployed at the main gate.

The students' union has maintained that it was not informed about the ABGP programme on the campus. According to the union, a confrontation followed during the event, after which some students were allegedly verbally abused and physically attacked. The students have called for an investigation based on CCTV footage, photographs, videos, medical records and eyewitness accounts, with responsibility determined on the basis of evidence.

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The union has also raised concerns about the security of students and called for clearer rules governing programmes organised by outside groups on the campus. A students' union leader said the administration's appeal to resume classes had not addressed their concerns over safety. The students have therefore decided to continue the academic boycott until action is taken against those they allege were involved in the violence.

Members of the ABGP have presented a different account of the September 27 incident, alleging that protesting students attacked them and damaged materials associated with their programme. Three FIRs were subsequently registered in connection with the clash, while the West Bengal government constituted a Special Investigation Team to examine the incident.

The continuing boycott has kept academic activities at SRFTI disrupted as authorities work to address the dispute. The students have said that their demands centre on accountability for the campus violence and adequate security, while the ongoing investigation is expected to examine the competing allegations surrounding the September 27 confrontation.

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