On 27th September, clashes broke out between the leftist student group Student Federation of India (SFI) and RSS-linked Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) over an ABGP programme being held at the auditorium of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in West Bengal’s Kolkata.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A clash broke out between members of the SFI and the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat during an event organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat at the SRFTI (Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute) auditorium. Heavy police deployment in… pic.twitter.com/0C6Suj6WKZ
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2026
The SFI members claimed that the ABGP members raised ‘provocative’ slogans, while the ABGP members said that the SFI-affiliated individuals tore down posters, disrupted the programme and assaulted its members.
Reports say that the tensions emerged when SFI-affiliated students began questioning how ‘outsiders’ were allowed to organise a programme on the SRFTI premises, whereas ABGP said that it had rented the auditorium for its event.
The Government of India consumer-related programme was scheduled to be held from noon to 4 pm on Sunday.
Tensions escalated when several people blocked the SRFTI gates, and the clashing parties resorted to sloganeering against each other. Later, media reports say that both groups attacked each other, and some professors also sustained injuries.
However, an SRFTI official said that there were no reports of any serious injury to anyone, including students.
Kolkata, West Bengal: A large number of protesters gathered outside the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) after a scuffle broke out between SRFTI students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat inside the campus. Heavy police deployment was made… pic.twitter.com/v0EajmODt6
— IANS (@ians_india) September 27, 2026
As per SFI-linked students, ABGP members ‘declared’ students as “anti-national”, “urban naxals” and “terrorists”.
Meanwhile, ABGP stated that four of its members have been admitted to hospital. The group alleged that an image of Swami Vivekananda was vandalised during the violence.
Soon after, the Kolkata Police teams arrived at the spot and initiated action to restore normalcy.
VHP alleged ‘ultra-Leftists’ disrupted peaceful ABGP event
Speaking about the incident, Indranil Mukherjee of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said, “A Government of India consumer-related program was underway; such events happen regularly, and SRFTI is a Government of India unit. The event had been ongoing since morning. We were occupied with another program when suddenly these separatists and ultra-Leftists, ‘ultra-Naxals,’ targeted the people attending the event.”
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Indranil Mukherjee from Vishwa Hindu Parishad says, "A Government of India consumer-related program was underway—such events happen regularly, and SRFTI (Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute) is a Government of India unit. The event had been… https://t.co/g1earsVq6h pic.twitter.com/5jF3QHg7pN
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2026
The VHP leader added, “Since it was Sunday, the female students were inside the campus; they went and confronted the attendees. We had absolutely no idea that this program was taking place there. We saw on TV that these students had forced everyone out of the campus, declaring that the event would not be allowed to continue. They stopped the program and beat women and children. We informed the police. The police know everything. We are asking the police to let us go inside for just 15 minutes.”
Kolkata, West Bengal: Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat State President, Pankaj Kumar Roy says, "…The image of Bharat Mata was tampered with. I will inform the Chief Minister about this incident…" pic.twitter.com/v6EZ0trgTf
— IANS (@ians_india) September 27, 2026
Meanwhile, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat State President, Pankaj Kumar Roy said, “The image of Bharat Mata was tampered with. I will inform the Chief Minister about this incident…”
