Bhubaneswar, Sept. 26: Police have been deployed on the Utkal University campus following a clash between two groups of students over students’ union elections last evening.

One student, who is contesting for the post of president, was hurt in the incident following which tension gripped the campus.

The injured student, Jyoti Ranjan Prusty, had lodged a complaint with the Saheed Nagar police last night. He complained that while he was returning from hostel campaigning in the evening, some of his rivals attacked him with iron rods and sticks.

Prusty accused his rival presidential candidate and his aides of beating and threatening him with dire consequences if he contested the polls.

“I ran away to save my life. They managed to catch me near the university gate and attacked me. I was severely injured,” said Prusty.

Later, Saheed Nagar police rushed to the spot and took the injured to Capital Hospital. Hospital sources, however, said that Prusthy’s injury was not serious.

Prusty today lodged written complaints with the chairman of the PG council of the university and the deputy commissioner of police with regard to the incident. He said that if the authorities or the police did not take any step against the culprits, he would sit on a hunger strike. He claimed that there was threat to his life.

His rival presidential candidate, Tanmay Swain, said they had not attacked anyone on the campus.

“It was Prusty’s ploy. We have not even touched him. It is part of a ploy by some students and outside elements to stop elections in the university,” said Swain, adding that the campus remained normal today. “If there was any tension on the campus, it would have reflected today. But, everything is normal and we are peacefully continuing with our election campaign,” he said.

Election in the university is being organised after two years. In the last two years, it was cancelled because of student unrest on the campus. This year, the college polls will be held on September 29. Elections in three colleges have been cancelled owing to widespread pre-poll violence on the campus this year.

One platoon of police force has been deployed on the campus. PG council chairman Pradip Sarkar said he was aware of the incident.