FTII students launch agitation over colleague's expulsion

Pune, Dec 20 (UNI) Students at the premier Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) here have launched an agitation, demanding that a fellow student, who has been expelled on disciplinary grounds, be readmitted.

In all three students were expelled but two of them, who were found falling short on attendence, were subsequently readmitted. The third student Manish Alimchandani, an NRI, has however not been readmitted yet. The students staged a sit-in outside the FTII premises today to press their demand.

Manish Alimchandani was expelled for allegedly insulting FTII director Tripurari Sharan in public. He had allegedly grabbed Mr Sharan by the throat after being asked to leave the class room.

Mr Sharan has conveyed to the students that the institute could consider Manish's readmission if he offered a written apology for his behaviour. ''One cannot be allowed to insult the head of an institution and get away with it. I am an IAS officer and know how to deal with the situation,'' Mr Sharan said.

Manish has, however, not tendered his apology so far and claims that he has been penalised for no fault of his. He was served with the expulsion notice on December 14 without even giving him a proper hearing, Manish alleged.

The students have demanded a third party intervention into the matter which should hear both sides before giving its decision.

UNI SP MAZ SK DB2154