Cuttack, Dec. 8: Tension prevailed at Ravenshaw University after a student was allegedly assaulted inside a classroom by a group of youths this evening.

This is the second incident of student attack in the last four days, which has raised questions on the existing security measures at the premier institution.

A second-year commerce student, Sushant Sethi, has sustained multiple injuries on his face, waist and shoulder in the attack that took place around 5pm today.

Sethi was severely beaten up by a group of six to seven youths, who had covered their faces with handkerchiefs to avoid identification.

“I was just about to return after appearing for my semester examination. The youths suddenly appeared from nowhere and dragged me into room No. 18 of the commerce block of the varsity. There, they severely beat me up,” said Sethi.

Sethi could not recognise the attackers as they had their faces covered.

“Sethi and I were returning from the examination hall in the room No. 17 when the goons dragged him to the next room. Though there were two lecturers inside the room, they did not even try to save Sethi from the hands of the assaulters. The attackers had come with empty beer bottles,” said Swaraj Samal, another second-year student.

On November 4, Suryakant Behera, a third-year commerce student, was also attacked on the varsity campus.

Behera was allegedly attacked by a group of students of East Hostel, while today’s attack is suspected to be the fallout of the ongoing rivalry between two student groups that has been lingering since the students’ union election.

Ravenshaw University authorities have condemned the attack.

“We had rushed the injured student to the nearest hospital. We will review the security measures at the university,” said Ravenshaw registrar Smarapriya Mishra.

Mishra further said that more security personnel would be deployed at the gate of examination hall and that no student would be allowed to leave the hall till completion of time for the semester examination.

The varsity authorities had introduced a vehicle pass system in October to restrict the entry of outsiders during the students’ union election. However, such measures have failed to put a check on the repeated incidents of clashes between students and non-students inside the campus.