post news network
Bhubaneswar, August 1: Commissionerate police were in a fix Monday after they found barricading of Utkal University was done in a haphazard way prior to the inauguration of its Biju Patnaik
sports complex by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Sources said twin city police commissioner Yogesh Bahadur Khurania called Sahid Nagar police officials and expressed his displeasure in strongest terms over the lack of robust barricading in and around the varsity.
The cops consequently tightened the security and used rope barricades on the campus.
Earlier, the students’ wing of Congress had staged a protest at the campus over the visit of the Chief Minister. Police said they detained over 20 members of students’ wing of Congress, who first organised a black flag demonstration before trying to gatecrash into the university. The protesters were detained at Infocity police station. Police sources said roadside shops near Utkal University were also closed for security reasons.
When contacted, Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said at least 20 platoon police force were deployed during Chief Minister’s visit to avoid any untoward incident.
According to sources, the sports complex built over 15 acres has a basketball court, volleyball, kabadi and kho-kho fields, gym and yoga centre, football field, turf wicket and an audience gallery.
The sports department has provided `42 lakh for the complex while the university has spent `1.41crore from its own fund. The hostel buildings for boys and girls were built at a cost of `7.87crore and `7.1crore respectively, sources said.
Higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahy, sports minister Sudam Marndi, city mayor AN Jena and MP Prasanna Patasani, MLA Priyadarshi Mishra and vice-chancellor AK Das were present at the inaugural function.
