Six-member SIT formed to probe Kolkata film institute violence; report due tomorrow

The West Bengal government has formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate violence that erupted at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata on September 27. A home department notification issued on Tuesday stated that the SIT would probe three cases registered in connection with the incident and submit its preliminary report by October 1.

Several people were injured when clashes broke out between SRFTI students and activists of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an RSS-linked outfit, along with alleged outsiders over an event organised on campus. While students alleged they were assaulted and called "anti-nationals" and "terrorists", the ABGP claimed its banners featuring images of Bharat Mata, Maa Durga, and Vivekananda were vandalised, and that its activists, including women, were assaulted and abused. Police registered three FIRs: one suo motu against students, and two based on complaints from the institute and the ABGP.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Agarwal will head the SIT, which includes Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) Sparsha Nilangi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID) Kaushik Ghosh, and three other senior officers. The team can add more officers or staff if required, according to the notification.