Kolkata Film Institute Student Faces Harassment Inside Campus

Kolkata: A student from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata has alleged that she is facing victim-shaming inside the campus, following her complaint about sexual harassment by three professors.

Last year in 2015, three faculty members were suspended following complaints of sexual harassment by some students. SRFTI's registrar Anindya Acharya said they had received complaints from some girl students against the three faculty members. There have been four complaints of sexual harassment, including one of a rape, that have been filed to the internal complaints committee (ICC) headed by Putul Mahmood.

One of the students alleging harassment, in particular, in an exclusive interview to India Today on Tuesday, said that she was facing a “hostile atmosphere inside campus”, and, in fact, “victim-shaming”. It also came to light that the administration, which received a report from the complaints committee, had not shared it with the complainant, but had shared it with the accused professors.

The report came to the conclusion that of the three accused professors, two were found guilty. The committee also recommended “strict action”. The student said that the accused faculty member was still in touch with other students despite being suspended, and was reportedly leading a campaign against her.

She went ahead and shot a video on her mobile phone where she alleged that drunk students intimidated her and used abusive language. The complainant has reportedly moved out of the hostel and is currently residing in the SRFTI campus guest house.