The battle between the students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the authorities has escalated after police entered the campus post Tuesday midnight and arrested five students for allegedly detaining institute's director Prashant Pathrabe.
The director of the institute, who was allegedly detained by the students, on Wednesday accused the students of torturing him and claimed that the police complaint against the students was filed without any political pressure.
"Initially for a couple of hours I refused to call the police but even after 4-5 hours they did not give in, I had no choice but to call the police. They formed chains to forcefully block me. I was tortured using interrogation techniques, verbal assault," said Pathrabe.
The FTII director further claimed that he was "forced to answer questions by the students" after eight-nine hours of torture. He alleged that students insisted on him answering their questions even after the police took him out of the room.
"I really wonder by what yardstick you can call such people students," said Pathrabe addressing a press conference.
Meanwhile, sources said that a government delegation would be sent to Pune to investigate what happened. They also called this a law and order issue, something the Centre cannot intervene in. The government sources condemned how the students gheraoed the director for eight hours.
Joining the political bandwagon was Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who made an offer to FTII students, saying they can hold classes in Delhi until the issue is resolved.
A three-member team of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is slated to go to Pune to study the situation and talk to students and authorities.
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