With the Centre continuing to maintain silence on the imbroglio that has paralysed the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), an indefinite hunger strike begun by students demanding the immediate revocation of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chairman has now led to three of the agitators being hospitalised.

Ankit Thapa, a sound recording student of the 2013 batch, was the third student to be hospitalised since the agitators commenced their ‘relay hunger-strike’ last Thursday to draw the attention of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry.

Mr. Thapa was rushed to a private hospital on Sunday evening following a sharp decline in sugar levels.

Himanshu Shekhar, one among the first group of the hunger fast agitators, is still holding out despite the passage of more than 100 hours, informed Vikas Urs, spokesman for the FTII Students’ Association (FSA).

Two new students, Dhwaj Bhatnagar, from the 2013 Sound batch and Shahi, from the 2012 Direction batch, have joined in the indefinite hunger strike, said Mr. Urs.

“The hunger strike will go on in relays till the Ministry pays heed our demands,” Mr. Urs said.

Meanwhile, as the strike entered its 95th day, the FTII administration made it clear that it would not foot the medical bills of students’ on hunger strike.