India film institute defends arrests of students

 

Authorities from India's premier film institute have defended the midnight arrest of five of its students.

Film and Television Institute of India director Prashant Pathrabe told reporters that he was "mentally traumatised" by striking students.
Mr Pathrabe was held hostage for several hours over a disagreement in the assessment of their final projects.
Students are also unhappy over the appointment of a new chairman who they say is driven by "rightwing interests".
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Pathrabe said that he had been rescued by police after "eight to nine hours of torture while being illegally detained by students".
"Is it just students' freedom that matters? What about my freedom?," he asked.
The late night arrest of the students had generated outrage in India, with many describing the action as "draconian". The students have been accused of seven different offences, including a non-bailable offence.
The incident is the latest point of confrontation between the students and authorities at the institute which is located in the western Indian city of Pune.
The students have boycotted classes for more than 60 days to protest against "insidious attempts" to fill the administration with people sympathetic to a "hardline Hindu nationalist agenda".