Security beefed up for the XLRI boundary wall on Sunday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

The management of XLRI — the city’s premier B-school — has overnight constructed the controversial boundary wall, blocking the 100-metre stretch that was used by students of adjacent Jamshedpur Co-operative College as a short-cut to reach their cradle.

The seven-feet-high wall was raised between Saturday midnight and Sunday early morning following a nod from the local administration. The latter, thereafter, deployed a phalanx of policemen to avoid any untoward incident.

The XLRI has recently launched a global MBA programme in partnership with two institutions — one in the US and the other in China. From January, classes will be held on the new campus.

In a bid to address security concerns, the B-school constructed the boundary wall to close down the road that was used by students, who cannot afford own vehicles, to reach Sakchi and Mango within a short time.

“The circle officer’s report on the possession of the plot went in favour of XLRI. Therefore, the institute’s management was allowed to construct the boundary wall,” said Dhalbhum subdivisional officer (SDO), Prem Ranjan, who had entrusted circle officer Prashant Kumar to look into land documents after protests snowballed into an ugly face-off last month.

The overnight construction has, meanwhile, prompted Jamshedpur Co-operative College Bachao Sangharsh Samiti — a joint front of students owing allegiance to various political organisations — to call an indefinite academic bandh at its affiliated cradles.

“We have decided to shut down Jamshedpur Co-operative College, the BEd and law colleges and cancel the IGNOU classes that are held on Sundays at the cradle for an indefinite period,” said Pawan Singh, the president of Jharkhand Chatra Morcha that is a part of the front.

He added that they would also take out a protest rally on Monday from the cradle to East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal’s office in Sakchi.

“The wall will cause great inconvenience for a section of students. We will take a decision tomorrow (Monday) to intensify our agitation,” said Rajnish Kumar, a senior functionary of NSUI.

Principal of Jamshedpur Co-operative College Ramakant Das said he was aware of the development.

“I have informed the matter to Kolhan University authorities and have sought necessary guidance on the issue,” he told The Telegraph.

Incidentally, this was XLRI’s second attempt — a successful one so far — to raise the wall. On November 13, the cradle had constructed the wall, a portion of which was razed by protesting students of the other college.