Agitating students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) have commenced a relay hunger strike demanding immediate and unconditional revocation of the expulsion order issued against 14 girl students.
There has been a stalemate between the institute’s students and authorities since October 17, following the expulsion of the 14 students for refusing to shift to the newly built girls hostel. The students launched the relay hunger strike late on Saturday night.
“About a week back, we agreed to the segregation of hostels although we are ideologically against it. But the authorities refused to revoke the expulsion order unconditionally and insisted that the concerned students will be held responsible for several acts of indiscipline,” Akshay Gauri, president of the SRFTI Students Association said.
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The agitating students also threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike if the SRFTI authorities refused to agree to their demands by 6 p.m. on Monday.
“The authorities are simply trying to muzzle our democratic protest and demean it,” said Rupkatha Purakayastha, one of the expelled students.