Kolkata, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate a violent clash that occurred on September 27 at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata. The incident involved members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and other students.
The SIT, consisting of six members, will closely examine the circumstances surrounding the altercation between students affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Student Federation of India (SFI) and ABVP members. Kunal Agarwal, the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) in Kolkata, will lead the team. Other members include Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Department, Sporsh Nilanghi, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Kaushik Ghosh from the Criminal Investigation Department of West Bengal Police, along with Inspectors Salil Roy, Tushar Kanti Ghosh, and Hirak Dalapati.
According to a notification from the state’s Home Department, the SIT was established based on three separate First Information Reports (FIRs) filed at the Panchasayar police station, which is under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Police. The SRFTI is located in this area.
Among the three FIRs, one was filed by ABVP members, another by a group of SRFTI students, and the third was registered by the police. As of now, no arrests have been made. The SIT is expected to submit its preliminary report by October 1.
The notification also grants the SIT the authority to request additional staff from either the West Bengal Police or Kolkata Police if necessary.
The violence erupted around 1 PM on Sunday during an ABVP event when a group of SFI activists arrived on campus. Reports indicate that SFI members questioned the organizers about holding the event in the auditorium. Organizers accused SFI activists of tearing down images and banners of Bharat Mata and Swami Vivekananda.
SFI activists claimed that the institute’s management had permitted the ABVP to hold the event without informing them. They alleged that organizers labeled them as “extremists” and “Bangladeshi.” When they protested, they claimed they were assaulted by the organizers.
Conversely, ABVP accused SFI activists of disrupting their event without provocation and claimed they had obtained the necessary permissions from authorities to hold the program.
Following the clash, a police team led by the Divisional Deputy Commissioner of Police arrived at the scene. Tensions escalated in the presence of police, leading to reports of scuffles between students and event organizers.
Some students alleged that instead of taking immediate action against those responsible for the violence, police were recording the names and addresses of those filing complaints. They expressed fear of harassment and demanded that cases be filed against the accused promptly. A group of students staged a protest near a police vehicle in support of their demands.
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