Bhubaneswar, Oct. 26: Tension gripped the Utkal University here today after a journalism student was assaulted on the campus here.

Police said rivalry between supporters of Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) and National Students Union (NSUI) could have triggered the attack.

BCJD candidate Mahesh Prasad had won the president's post in the recently concluded students' union election. After the polls, two students were injured in a clash between the two groups. The cops said members from the two groups had a heated argument on the campus last evening.

"I was standing in front of the hostel when about 12 youths, including a few university students, arrived on motorcycles. They were wielding iron rods and wooden planks. All of a sudden, one of them attacked me. When some of my friends tried to save me, they were also attacked," said the second-year journalism student, Ranjan Pradhan. He was rushed to the Capital Hospital with head injuries and was later discharged. Following the incident, tension prevailed on the campus as both the groups are searching for opportunities to attack each other.

The cops have registered a case on a complaint filed by Pradhan. A group of students today met senior police officials demanding stringent action against the culprits.

"The group that won the election this year has been threatening us after their win. Their supporters had even set fire to some hostel rooms. The police, however, is not taking any action against them," said a student. Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said: "We have deployed police personnel. Students involved in any kind of assault will not be spared."