PUNE: A professor and five students of Savitribai Phule Pune University were arrested on Saturday on the charge of
hurting religious sentiments
through an
experimental play
based on the life of actors who perform in Ramleela. The arrested professor and the students-also charged with rioting after a clash with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members on Friday evening, which led to stalling of the play-were granted bail by a Pune court on Saturday evening.
The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) said it would form a fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of a retired district judge and based on its report, necessary action would be taken.
The Pune police have deployed special teams to guard the campus. A group of college professors has strongly criticized the arrest of the students and the professor (head of a department of the university).
Vice-chancellor Suresh Gosavi told TOI, "We do not support the students on the issue of staging the parody play, but those who objected to the play could have sat with the former and the issue could have been resolved amicably."
Pune commissioner of police (CP) Amitesh Kumar told TOI, "It is a sensitive issue and our teams are pacifying both the parties. A strong team has been deployed on the university premises to avert any further trouble there. We will take appropriate legal action against both the parties." The experimental play, titled 'Jab We Met', focused on the behind-the-scenes banter among actors portraying various roles in 'Ramleela'.
It was presented by the students of Lalit Kala Kendra, officially known as the Centre for Performing Arts, on the SPPU premises on Friday evening as a part of the Kendra's internal assessment of students.
A group of students affiliated to ABVP arrived at the amphitheatre on Friday evening and objected to the play, arguing that it contained objectionable dialogues and scenes. The play was stalled after a clash between the students of Lalit Kala Kendra and ABVP.
Following a complaint filed by ABVP functionary Harshvardhan Harpude, the Pune police on Saturday morning arrested Pravin Bhole, the head of the Lalit Kala Kendra, and the five students- Bhavesh Patil, Jay Pednekar, Prathamesh Sawant, Ri shikesh Dalvi and Yash Chikhle. So far, no cross-complaint has been registered against the ABVP members.
TOI's multiple attempts to contact Bhole after his release on bail went in vain. The university administration's statement further said, "The university has received representations from various organisations that the religious sentiments of many have been hurt because of this incident. Parody of any person, legend or historical figure, is completely wrong and prohibited. The university does not endorse any such thing."
In a joint letter written to the SPPU vice-chancellor, four professors from the university - Harsh Jagzap, Mahesh Deokar, Shruti Tambe and Mihir Arjunwadkar - stated, "We strictly condemn the arrest of the students and the pofessor . The university must take legal action against the ABVP members for creating a ruckus."
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