Academic routines at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) campus in Itanagar have come to a complete standstill as students launched an indefinite boycott of all classes. The unrest follows an assault near the institute that left multiple students and a prominent faculty member injured, triggering widespread concerns over security arrangements around the educational facility.
The Altercation on Jollang-Rakap Road
The trouble began on the evening of September 16 while three students were outdoors completing an academic project. According to the Students’ Council, a group of local youths intercepted the students along the Jollang-Rakap Road, situated in close proximity to the campus. A verbal disagreement quickly escalated into violence when one of the youths struck a student using a stick.
Dominic Sangma, the head of the Screenwriting Department and a celebrated two-time National Award-winning filmmaker from Meghalaya, stepped in to defuse the situation. However, two youths turned on him and assaulted him directly. Sangma has earned broad critical acclaim for his Garo-language feature films including 'Rapture' (Rimdogittanga) and 'Ma.Ama'. During the commotion, another student standing nearby was struck on the head with a bamboo stick. When campus guards and institute administrative personnel arrived to intervene, they were also subjected to severe intimidation and verbal threats.
Police Action and Rising Safety Concerns
Law enforcement authorities confirmed that two individuals accused in the assault have been taken into custody. Despite the arrests, the Students’ Council declared that the protest, which commenced on September 17, would not cease until management institutes dependable safety protocols.
Female students in particular have voiced heightened anxiety over recurring safety lapses, citing unmonitored entry by outsiders into campus spaces and repeated instances of harassment. The council maintained that the atmosphere on campus remains tense without systemic intervention.
Pending CISF Deployment and Resolution Demands
A primary grievance highlighted by the demonstrating students involves the long-delayed deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Institute authorities had formally assured the student body in May 2025 that CISF personnel would take charge of security. That initiative, however, has remained stalled for over 16 months because suitable housing accommodations were never provided for the security personnel.
To end the impasse, the council is demanding immediate CISF deployment alongside the establishment of a dedicated police outpost near the campus premises. Furthermore, they are pressing for a joint committee of faculty and students to supervise legal follow-ups related to the assault, as well as a permanent coordination committee to foster peace and understanding between institute members and the surrounding community.
