NEW DELHI: Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) director Prashant Pathrabe has justified his action in calling in the police after he was gheraoed for close to nine hours last night (18 August) by students.

Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Pathrabe said that the students verbally abused him and even termed him as inefficient for not being able to resolve their problem with regard to the appointment of Bharatiya Janata Party member and TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chairman.

He said that he had attempted to pacify the students and requested them not to resort such tactics but to no avail. He was confined to one room and was verbally assaulted. 

Five students, who were arrested in a post-midnight swoop and sent to judicial custody, were then released on bail this evening (19 August).

The police said the students had been charged with rioting and damaging property amongst other charges.

Pathrabe said there were around 40 students who were protesting against what they alleged was "irrational and unjustified" pro-rata course project assessment of the 2008 batch.

The police crackdown came after the 72-day old agitation in which a section of the students are opposing the appointment of Chauhan.