Agitating FTII students not criminals: Rahul

New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the arrest of agitating FTII students, and said the students are not criminals.

"Protesting FTII students arrested in midnight crackdown. Our students are not criminals. Silence, Suspend, Arrest: Modi Mantra for Achhe Din," Gandhi tweeted.

In a post-midnight swoop, Maharashtra Police arrested five students of Film and Television Institute of India from their campus for rioting, damaging properties and other charges.

The arrests came after a group of striking students confined FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe and other staffers in his office for eight hours, and vandalised office furniture and fittings.