Balangir: Rajendra College, the oldest educational institution in west Odisha, is in focus following a murderous attack on assistant professor Rabi Shankar Pandia last Saturday.

People from all walks of life have unequivocally condemned the attack and expressed concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation on the campus.

Balangir MLA and leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra held a closed-door meeting with the college principal to take stock of the situation.

Cutting across party lines, the people of Balangir have given the call for a protest rally on February 2 to condemn the attack. Pandia was brutally attacked by the goons, apparently a fallout of the teacher's resistance to the criminal elements thronging the campus unabated.

Mishra said law and order at the college had completely collapsed.

"The campus has been taken over by the goons, who are freely entering the college and creating problems. The atmosphere on the campus has been adversely affected and it has become the hub of non-collegiate criminals. I have discussed with the principal and staff members of the college to find ways to address the situation," he said.

The legislator further said he had drawn attention of the home secretary and the higher education secretary to the issue. "I have taken up the matter with the top officials of the concerned departments of the state government. Law and order has deteriorated in Balangir, and the police have failed to discharge their duty. I will speak to the police superintendent in this matter," he said. The civil society of Balangir has decided to hold a protest rally in Balangir on February 2 to condemn the attack.

People from various organisations expressed the need for working together to revive the lost glory of the Rajendra College. The meeting chaired by Madhu Sudan Pati, professor, who emphasised on revival of the Alumni Association of Rajendra College to take up various issues the college was facing. The association presently exists only on paper.