Keonjhar/Jhumpura: Students affiliated to ABVP staged protests and organised a road blockade over suspension of principal Surendra Mohant of Ukhunda Panchayat Plus II College under Baria police limits in Keonjhar Friday. Notably, Mohant was suspended for his reported facebook posting against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Patna MLA and chairman of the college governing body Hrushikesh Nayak had ordered the suspension of Mohant Thursday. The governing body members also locked the office of Principal Mohant.
The agitated students who held placards in hand also blocked the Baunsuli-Champua road at Ukhunda in protest.
Meanwhile, the suspended principal has filed a complaint with local police for locking his office.
Tension also erupted in the college over the issue. Locals and students have strongly condemned the suspension and locking incident.
Mohant, said that he has not mad nay comments about the Chief Minister, but has shared a posting.
“The college committee cannot suspend him or lock his office. This is illegal. I have filed a complaint, but the police did not give him an FIR copy. I will move the High Court in this regard,” Mohant claimed.
When contacted, MLA Hrushikesh Nayak said there are orders from the top level to suspend the principal. “The principal’s office was locked for safety reasons as the suspended principal Mohant did not hand over the charge,” he added.
According to sources, Mohant had shared a facebook post August 21 for which the college governing body chairperson sought an explanation from him. But, Mohant did not respond to the notice. An emergency meeting of the governing body was called, but the principal did not attend it.
The meeting which took up several issues relating to the principal unanimously decided to suspend Mohant. The principal was called to the college to receive the suspension letter, but he did not respond so far.
As students refused to relent, police resorted to lathi charge and dispersed them. As tension continued to prevail, police were deployed at the spot.
PNN
