FTII Itanagar Students Halt Classes After Alleged Assault on Students, Faculty Member; FIR Registered

Papum Pare- Students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Itanagar, have halted academic activities following an alleged assault involving students, a faculty member and a security guard near the institute campus on September 16. Balijan Police Station has registered an FIR in connection with the incident.

The FIR, registered as FIR No. 0035/2026 on September 17, names Techi Nanu, son of Techi Tat, and Techi Sanjay, son of Techi Kaki, both residents of Rakap village, as accused.

According to the written complaint submitted by Taba Denia, Executive Officer (Administration), FTII Itanagar, the incident took place on September 16 on the public road between Jollang-Rakap Bazaar and the FTII campus.

The complaint states that the two accused allegedly wrongfully restrained and physically assaulted Prof. Dominic Sangma, Head of the Department of Screenwriting, four FTII students Jay Prakash Chaudhary, Amarjeet Yadav, Siddhant Bhooshan and Bharat Kumar Mahto and Kula Swargiary, a security guard on duty at FTII Itanagar.

The complaint further states that the alleged assault resulted in physical injuries to the victims.

The written complaint was received at Balijan Police Station on September 17, following which the case was registered the same day. The FIR invokes Sections 115(2), 126(2), 351(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The case has been endorsed to ASI G. Kechak for investigation.

Education Cannot Continue Under Threat, Say Students

Divyansh and Ajay Yadav, the President and General Secretary of the FTI Students Council said, students have repeatedly raised concerns regarding unauthorised entry, aggressive behaviour, inadequate security, and the need for CISF deployment.

They stated that communications with the administration, dated 5 and 6 May 2025 indicated that CISF personnel were ready for deployment, but the process remained pending due to the lack of accommodation. More than sixteen months later, the issue remains unresolved.

The students have halted the classes since the attack and will continue it until concrete and time-bound measures are taken to address their continuing safety concerns. Amid repeated threats, harassment, intimidation, and now physical violence, students, particularly women students, state that they feel extremely unsafe and fear for their lives and well-being.

The Demands:

The students have placed the following demands before the authorities:

1.Immediate protective measures by the administration following the filing of the FIR, in addition to state police protection.

2. Immediate deployment of CISF personnel in and around the campus.

3. An internal committee comprising faculty and students to monitor the legal proceedings fairly and transparently.

4. A permanent committee to maintain harmonious communication between the Institute and local residents while protecting the long-term interests of FTII Itanagar.

5. Construction of a police outpost near the campus.

In view of the continuing security concerns and the recent escalation to physical violence, the students urge that the demands be fulfilled at the earliest, as they directly concern the safety and well-being of the students, faculty members, and staff of FTII Itanagar. The students are asking for an in-person meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of SRFTI, the Joint Secretary, the District Magistrate, and the Deputy Commissioner, along with student representatives, to address the crisis urgently.

The Mooknayak reached out to Ajay Nagbhushan, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and Samiran Datta, Vice-Chancellor, SRFTI, seeking their response on the security concerns at FTII Itanagar, the measures taken following the September 16 incident, and the students’ ongoing academic halt. The report will be updated upon receiving their responses.