Bhubaneswar: At least seven students, including two girls, were injured in a purported pre-poll violence erupted at Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar (BJB) Autonomous College here Monday.
According to sources, two groups of students owing allegiance to different political parties clashed on the college premises over some unspecified issues. The injured students were admitted to the Capital Hospital where the condition of five students is stated to be critical as they have sustained head injuries.
Though the exact reason of the clash is yet to be ascertained, the police suspect that past enmity and political rivalry could have resulted in the fracas.
Sources also said the same groups of students had engaged in a verbal duel a couple of days back. A posse of police force from Badagada police station has been deployed near the campus as a precautionary measure.
Student union elections at various colleges across the state had witnessed violence last year. There were even cases of bomb attacks on BJB College campus forcing the college authorities to declare closure of the institution sine die.
The student union election was cancelled due to prevailing tension on the college premises and clashes among the students groups. The students had blocked roads near Kalpana Square protesting the decision of the college authorities.
The Principal of BJB College, Prasanna Kumar Mohanty, said, “We have received a written complaint in this regard and will take stringent action against the guilty after police complete the probe in this regard.”