28 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has reacted to the reported violence at Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), invoking allegations of “vote chori” in West Bengal while criticising the confrontation between students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP).
Kashyap shared a statement issued by the SRFTI Students’ Union on Instagram and wrote: “This is what they stole the votes for in Bengal. This and so much more.” His comment linked the reported campus violence to a broader political controversy, although the alleged electoral irregularities and the campus clash are separate matters.
What Happened at SRFTI?
A confrontation broke out at the Kolkata film institute on September 27, after an ABGP programme was held at the institute’s Main Theatre.
According to reports, the organisation said it had obtained permission to use the auditorium and had paid a booking fee. The SRFTI Students’ Union, however, said students were not informed about the event before permission was granted.
Students and ABGP Give Different Accounts
The Students’ Union alleged that tensions escalated after students put up posters questioning the decision to allow the programme.
Students alleged that members of the organisation subsequently attacked them with sticks, stones and bricks and that the confrontation spread to other parts of the campus. They also alleged that students took shelter in the library and that the librarian was assaulted.
ABGP has presented a different account, alleging that protesting students disrupted its programme, tore down posters and assaulted its members. The organisation has also claimed that several of its members were hospitalised.
Police Deployed, FIRs Registered
Police were deployed at the institute after the confrontation escalated.
Reports say police have registered FIRs as authorities investigate the incident. The competing allegations mean that the exact sequence of events and responsibility for the violence remain subject to investigation.
Students Allege Multiple Injuries
The Students’ Union has alleged that around 30 students and two teachers were injured during the clash, with some students requiring hospital treatment.
The union also alleged that students were subjected to abusive language and threats during the confrontation. These claims have been made by the student body and remain part of the competing accounts being examined.
Kashyap Shares Students’ Statement
Rather than independently detailing the incident, Kashyap shared the Students’ Union’s statement on social media and added his own political comment.
His reference to “vote chori” echoes an existing political allegation concerning electoral processes in West Bengal. The comment represents Kashyap’s political interpretation of the incident and does not establish any connection between the campus violence and alleged electoral irregularities.
SRFTI Under Increased Attention
The incident has placed the centrally run film institute under scrutiny over the decision to allow an outside organisation to conduct a programme on campus.
Students have questioned the communication and permission process, while ABGP has maintained that it had obtained the necessary authorisation for the event.
Investigation Continues
With both sides accusing the other of triggering the confrontation, investigators will have to examine witness statements, videos and other available evidence to establish what happened.
The police investigation will also determine whether further action or charges are warranted against individuals involved in the clash.
Political Debate Widens
Kashyap’s intervention has added a political dimension to an incident that began as a dispute over an event at a film institute.
His “vote chori” remark has generated additional discussion online, while the central issue remains the reported violence and the competing claims made by students and ABGP members.