Now Reading: SRFTI students allege power cut, institute denies claim
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SRFTI students allege power cut, institute denies claim
The Story in Brief
Students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata on Sunday, 25 October 2026 alleged that the power supply to a classroom they had been using for internet and work facilities was cut off on Saturday, 24 October 2026, accusing the administration of intensifying pressure on their ongoing protest. A senior institute official rejected the allegation, calling the students liars and stating the internet had not been disconnected, pointing to their livestreamed activities that day.
The dispute is part of a standoff that began after clashes on 27 September during an event by the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), which left several students injured. Students have been staging an indefinite sit-in since 12 October demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera and accountability for attacks. The West Bengal government formed an SIT to probe the 27 September incident.
The institute has suspended academic activities until 13 November and directed students to vacate hostels. Six students have been rusticated over alleged assault and misconduct. The institute clarified on Sunday that disciplinary action was for misconduct, vandalism and assault, not for exercising the right to protest. The administration said it would assess the situation by 13 November and take necessary decisions.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both Mathrubhumi and The Hindu report the same power-cut allegation and denial, and both carry the institute's clarification that disciplinary action is for misconduct, not protest rights. The coverage is uniform straight reporting from a PTI feed. The key difference lies in detail: The Hindu quotes the institute's registrar at length, including the specific grounds for disciplinary action, while Mathrubhumi gives more weight to the official's allegation of political instigation. The balanced reading is that the core dispute, student safety versus institute discipline, remains unresolved, with both sides dug in. The concrete next step is the 13 November deadline when the administration will assess the situation.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): mathrubhumi.com (neutral report), thehindu.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
