Dozens Of Students Beaten Up And Arrested In FTII

Dozens Of Students Beaten Up And Arrested In FTII

By Countercurrents.org

07 January, 2016
Countercurrents.org

Photo Credit: Abira Dhar ‏@AbiraDhar @TheQuint

Dozens of students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) were beaten up inside the campus, arrested and forcefully removed from the campus. The students were protesting against arrival of Gajendra Chauhan to take charge as the chairman of India's premier film institute. Two female students and 23 male students were arrested. Shini J.K, one of the female students arrested said the female students were attacked by male police, a gross violation of human rights.

Here is a video to prove what the police is upto. Students beaten up in their own campus @TheQuint #FTIIprotest pic.twitter.com/cQWJ3drQRH
— Abira Dhar (@AbiraDhar) January 7, 2016

A large cache of police personnel were present at the campus to make way for the arrival of Gajendra Chauhan. When the students started shouting slogans the police charged on them and started beating them up indiscriminately. 25 of them arrested and lodged in the police station.

Amidst the chaos, Gajendra Chauhan assumed office. PIB Mumbai tweeted that he was welcomed by the FTII staff:

#FTII staff extended a warm welcome to Shri Gajendra Chauhan on his first visit to the Institute. pic.twitter.com/LJ4Moumn3r
— PIB Mumbai (@pibmumbai) January 7, 2016

The actor and the BJP member was appointed the chairman of the top film institute on June 9, 2015. His appointment was followed by a series of protests by students and celebrated alumni of the institute. Some had even gone on an indefinite strike as they questioned his "professional credibility" to lead the institute due to lack of "stature" and "vision". They finally withdrew the strike in October, after 139 days.

Best known for essaying the role of 'Yudhishthir' in BR Chopra's "Mahabharat", Mr Chauhan has also appeared in small roles in films like "Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge" and "Baghban".