Bhubaneswar: Authorities began evicting unauthorised occupants from Utkal University’s hostels in Bhubaneswar Monday in a large-scale operation codenamed ‘Blue Star’, officials said.
Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that non-boarders were being evicted from the hostels of Utkal University in Bhubaneswar to maintain a study-friendly environment on the campus.
Eight platoons of police force have been deployed on the campus for the eviction drive, he said.
The minister appealed to the former students and other outsiders to cooperate with the university authorities, as they also have a responsibility to ensure an academic environment on the campus.
Police, hostel wardens and senior faculty members joined the drive at the Vani Vihar campus, targeting four hostels long occupied by outsiders. The university administration said the sweep was ordered amid mounting security concerns and disruption of academic life.
Hostels 1, 2, 3 and 5 were identified as housing a large number of non-students, including some linked to political groups. Despite repeated deadlines to vacate, many had refused to leave, prompting the eviction, officials said.
“The university has been facing hurdles in allotting rooms to its enrolled students. A decision was taken to force out all non-students from the hostels. A deadline was given in advance, and following its expiry, we are conducting this operation with the help of the state machinery,” said the university registrar.
PNN
