Bhubaneswar: With two days to go for filing of nominations and a week for the elections, incidents of campus violence are being reported which may affect the students’ union polls this year. A clash erupted between two groups of students at Utkal University Wednesday night that left two students including a presidential candidate of Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) Soumyaranjan Mohapatra injured.
Student leaders and candidates met the vice chancellor Thursday demanding action against the attackers. Meanwhile, some female candidates and members of ABVP and NSUI met Vice Chancellor SM Patnaik Thursday and submitted a written complaint to him.
In the clash that happened near the dispensary close to the ladies’ hostel, a heated exchange occurred between some girls and Dinabandhu Pati, an outsider who is part of the BCJD campaign, sources said.
Sources said, Pati used filthy language on the women candidates of the rival parties after which a fracas erupted. The girls beat him up. One of the girls was also injured in the fight. She was admitted to a private hospital. Police reached the spot and detained Pati. In another clash near a canteen inside the university campus, some outsiders attacked Soumyaranjan with sharp weapons. Mohapatra lodged a complaint at Sahid Nagar police station.
Meanwhile, BCJD members Thursday released their brochure where they highlighted their achievements and their future plans. They released a booklet with their 22-point election manifesto. They said they will try to build a permanent structure for hosting of National Flag at the university, a new entrance for safety of students apart from posting of teaching staff, installation of water ATMs, opening of new language departments and launching of an international students exchange programme.
Soumyaranjan and his members met VC after which the latter assured them of strict action against the culprits. Meanwhile, ABVP and NSUI members gheroaed the VC office Thursday. They tried to break the gate after a long argument with the authorities following which women members were allowed to meet the VC. They demanded strict action against the culprit and women security. Lizalin Nayak, who was injured in Wednesday’s clash, said, “We demand immediate action against the culprits and stop outsiders’ entry into the college as it threatens the security of girl students.”
ABVP presidential candidate Ranjit Kumar Digal alleged rival party candidates use outsiders in campaign and some of the outsiders misbehave with girls. Meanwhile, the authorities were planning to cancel the election. We will observe it for a few days. If the situation turns worse we will definitely cancel the election.
Meanwhile, miscreants hurled a crude bomb at the ladies hostel of BJB College. Sources said two students were injured in the explosion. A group of students blocked a road near the college and sought action against the desperadoes.
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