Blocked entry to campus for third consecutive day: SRFTI head

Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Director Debamitra Mitra today claimed she and other faculty members were stopped from entering the campus by the agitating students for the third consecutive day.
Mitra said the students' body will have to allow the institute to function in order to discuss issues flagged by them.
"Only then we could discuss the issues raised by them excepting the segregation of girl students which is non-negotiable. But how can they prevent teachers from entering campus?" Mitra told PTI.
The expulsion of 14 girl students from the SRFTI following their refusal to vacate an old hostel and shift to a new one has triggered protests and agitation in the premier institute's campus since October 17.

Disputing Mitra's claim, students' body spokesman Akshay Gouri said they had only blocked the entrance of administrative building and were ready to hold talks with the director in the campus today.
"But the director left the campus and we heard she was holding talks with faculty somewhere else," Gouri said.

He said the students wanted immediate withdrawal of expulsion of the girls by SRFTI management to restore normalcy.
The authorities decided to build a separate girls' hostel, upgrade curriculum and infrastructure at the institute after receiving approval from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2013.
Earlier, boys and girls had separate accommodation in the same block of the old hostel. After receiving the I&B ministry's approval, a new girls' hostel was built.

Mitra maintained that the objective behind shifting the girls to the new hostel was to ensure their safe.