ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
Bhubaneswar: A dispute over a non-vegetarian feast near a temple escalated into a clash in Pipili ahead of Odisha’s student union elections, leaving Aryan Mahapatra, a presidential candidate at BJB College in Bhubaneswar, seriously injured.
Police have detained two people for questioning in connection with the incident.
Mahapatra suffered a serious head injury during the clash.
He was initially taken to Pipili Hospital for treatment before being shifted to Capital Hospital here for further medical care.
According to reports, Mahapatra was campaigning in Pipili with his supporters.
After the campaign, he joined more than 15 students for a feast at a nearby ground.
Tensions reportedly flared when a BJB College student from Pipili arrived with five to six others and objected to the group organising a non-vegetarian feast near Nilakantheswar Temple.
The objection sparked an argument between the two groups, which escalated into a heated exchange and an alleged physical altercation.
Mahapatra sustained a serious head injury in the clash.
Following the incident, Mahapatra was taken to Pipili Hospital for initial treatment before being referred to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. He later lodged a written complaint at Pipili police station.
Police registered a case (No. 632/26) and launched an investigation. Pipili police station officer-in-charge Soumendu Sekhar Tripathy said two teams had been formed to identify and apprehend those allegedly involved in the clash.
Two people have been detained for questioning, he added.
The incident has sparked concern in Pipili as Odisha prepares for student union elections October 15, with the attack on a presidential candidate raising questions over security during the campaign.
Student union elections are returning to Odisha after an eight-year hiatus, but tensions have mounted across the state.
At least 10 colleges have reportedly cancelled polls or shut down amid security concerns, protests over rejected nominations and allegations of irregularities.