SRFTI campus on boil over sexual harassment plaints
Times of India | 5 November 2024
123 Kolkata: Sexual harassment complaints have returned to haunt the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) campus, following which students gheraoed the institute director on Monday.
Last Wednesday, the institute's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) submitted the preliminary investigation report after a former faculty member lodged sexual harassment allegations against a functionary of the institute. These allegations included accusations of casteist remarks and physical and mental abuse on campus.
Last Friday, National Award-winning director Putul Mahmood, who was the ICC presiding officer at the institute in 2016-2017 that found three faculty members guilty, resigned. Students suspect that she may have been forced to do so by a section of the institute's administration, conveying a message to the current inquiry committee about the repercussions of opposing the official against whom the ICC is carrying out an investigation.
Before the ICC took charge, the problem reached cops when both accused and complainant filed complaints. Sources say the complaints against the institute functionary were about physical assault, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, blackmailing, thr-eats, use of abusive language and casteist remarks. The complainant refused to talk to TOI about the issue, saying, "I am bound by the confidentiality clause and can't speak." Sources indicate the ministry officials in SRFTI's governing council have received correspondence from her requesting a definitive timeline for the completion of the formal enquiry. Suba Raman, president of the SRFTI Students' Union, told TOI they have demanded the same.
"Since the preliminary report is submitted to the governing council, they have to act and make a decision based on the preliminary report at the earliest," Raman said.