Two days after a right-wing mob barged into the Film and Television Institute of India campus in Pune and targeted students over a Babri Masjid event, the institute’s alums have “unequivocally” condemned the police “inaction” and said that it “is painful to see the students of this great film school being assaulted with impunity”.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, a group of over 200 FTII alums said, ““FTII students had organised discussions and screenings on their campus as part of their academic commitment. That intruders were allowed to attack the students is inexcusable. The inaction of the police in investigating and taking action against those responsible for the violence – clearly recorded on video – is even more inexcusable. We appeal to the police and all relevant authorities to take prompt action against those who perpetrated violence against the students and who entered with the intent to vandalise property.”
Vipin Hasabnis, in-charge of the Deccan police station in Pune, had earlier said that three suspects from the lesser-known Hindu Jan Jagaran Sangathan were arrested over the incident. An FIR was lodged under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (punishment for rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 452 (trespassing), 323 (punishment for causing hurt), 504 (provocation to break public peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 427 (mischief).
FTIISA, the students’ association of the institute, had raised a “Remember Babri – Death of Constitution” banner on the campus on January 22, when the Ram temple in Ayodhya was consecrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also held a photo exhibition on the Babri mosque demolition and screened Anand Patwardhan’s Ram ke Naam documentary on the politics behind the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
At least three students received minor injuries in the attack and were discharged, said Vipin Hasabnis. But students claimed that four sustained “grievous injuries”. These included Mankap Nokwoham, president of FTIISA; Sayantan Chakrabarty, general secretary; and a student of cinematography.
It was the second such incident involving FTII students and right-wing groups in three days. A similar incident had taken place in the early hours of January 21, when a mob of 20 people gathered in front of the main gate of the campus and chanted ‘Jai Shree Ram’, claimed the FTIISA.
“The security guards remained mum and took no action whatsoever [then],” the association said. “Later on being questioned about their inaction, they cleared the mob from the main gate. About half an hour post the incident, a mob of people started sloganeering ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and threatened the students wielding sticks and [said] that they will come back with a bigger mob. The Registrar and the Security Officer promised our safety.”
Meanwhile, in their statement today, FTII alums said, “We hold the institute in great affection and regard, and owe to it the rigorous training that turned us into film professionals. It is painful to see the students of this great film school being assaulted with impunity. We, as a community of film professionals, educators, artists, of both national and international acclaim, extend our support to the FTII student community in this tough and testing moment.”
Update at 8.40 am, Jan 26: An abridged version of the statement in the second paragraph of this report incorrectly termed “intruders” as “violent hooligans”. This has been corrected.
This report was published with AI assistance.
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