Police have identified 18 more students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in connection with the alleged “gherao” and “illegal confinement” of the institute’s director Prashant Pathrabe last year and issued them notices to present themselves before court on 14 March.
However, the FTII Students’ Association (FSA) has dubbed the police action as “arm-twisting” tactics by the administration. With this, the total number of students named in the case has reached to 35, as 17 students were identified earlier. Out of those 17, five were arrested while 12 others are out on anticipatory bail.
Seventeen students were already identified and named in the earlier FIR. Now, after screening the video footage of the incident, the complainant (Pathrabe) and eye-witnesses have identified some more students, and on that basis, their names have been included in the case. They have been issued notices.Pravin Chaugule, Inspector, Deccan-Gymkhana Police
The FTII students, who were on strike for 139 days since June against the appointment of BJP member and TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman, had allegedly gheraoed and confined Pathrabe at his office on August 17. The incident had led to police swooping-in on the campus on the intervening night of August 18-19, and arresting five students.
Meanwhile, the FSA has condemned the police action.
The FTII administration on one hand draws out academic schedules and deadlines, and on the other proceeds with the court cases to corner the students. It is extremely disheartening and shameful to see the administration of a premier government-run institute arm-twisting its students on orders from their superiors, who happen to be the elected representatives of the citizens.FTII Students Association
The students’ body further said the police action has come at a time when the Screenplay batch of 2013 and Film batch of 2008 are finishing their course and would be leaving the campus.
The 12 students on anticipatory bail have been ordered by the court not to leave Pune jurisdiction, but would be finishing the course and with these notices would be left wanting for a place to live.FTII Students Association
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