MillenniumPost
Bengal

Protesting SRFTI students agree to accept proposal

Kolkata: The stalemate that has been continuing at the campus of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) since last Tuesday took a dramatic turn on Monday with the agitating students agreeing to the authorities proposal for segregation of male and female students.
SRFTI has been witnessing protests from students since Tuesday that was triggered from the expulsion of fourteen girl students for their refusal to vacate an old hostel and shift to a new accommodation. However, the deadlock did not show any signs of resolving with the students declaring to continue their agitation with demands relating to infrastructure revamping and revoking the expulsion of 14 students and suspension of 10 students who had allegedly resorted to violence in the campus.
Debattam Basu, representative of the students' council said: "We are willing to accept the hostel segregation policy of the institution but we want the authorities to look into our other demands. The authorities will have to agree to our demands, otherwise we will continue to protest."
As many as 20 students blocked the entrance of the gate on Monday and did not allow authorities to enter the campus. Condemning the action of the students, SRFTI Director Debamitra Mitra said: "Last Friday they had submitted a long list of demands and had told us they will comply with the hostel segregation policy provided we look into their demands. We had agreed to meet on Monday and discuss with the faculty about their 27 point-demand. We were ready to look into their demands, but they deliberately prevented our entry to the campus," Mitra said alleging that they also locked the administrative building.
A meeting was held at the director's residence and students were informed that the authorities will consider their demands only after they restore normalcy in the campus.
Next Story
Share it