Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16: Amid reports of violence, candidates filed their nominations for college students' union elections in the state scheduled to be held on September 23.

Traffic came to a standstill on the stretch between Kalpana Square to Ravi Talkies Square stretch in the city with students of BJB (Autonomous) College demonstrating against the decision of the college to cancel elections. Some students burnt tyres to mark their protest.

Several students of the college have been vacating their hostels since this morning. Since the hurling of two low-intensity crude bombs at a BJB women's hostel on Thursday, the tension has been palpable on campus.

Last evening, the BJB authorities announced the college indefinitely closed and asked boarders to vacate the hostels.

Adding to the chaos, some people changed the name of the college on the front gate from BJB to BJD.

This came to the notice of the college authorities this morning.

The college is named after Buxi Jagabandhu.

'It is a dastardly act. Those responsible should be punished for this,' said Biren Patnaik, a student of the college.

Student elections have become a reason to worry for college authorities in the state. Elections were also cancelled at the college last year following violence. Apart from BJB college, five colleges in Bhubaneswar had cancelled elections last year because of violence. These are Maharishi College, Rajdhani College, Deba Ray College, Ekamra College and Capital Law College.

Also, two student groups clashed at Puri SCS College today. Dhamnagar College in Bhadrak district was also declared closed indefinitely due to student unrest.

A Democratic Students' Organisation (DSO)-supported candidate was allegedly attacked by a group of students at Hinjilicut College in Ganjam district over filing of nomination papers.

Unidentified goons hurled two bombs at Alarnath College in the Brahmagiri area of Puri district following which the college was declared indefinitely closed.

'One of the bombs exploded and the other one was thankfully discovered by police. There is no point in hosting elections in such a situation,' said Ananya Mohapatra, who had intended to contest in the college elections.

However, things went smoothly on several campuses across the state. Candidates, along with their supporters, today took out colourful processions in many colleges.

Soubhagya Soumyashree Samal, who is running for president at Utkal University, said: 'The nomination process was over without any problem. I will certainly work for the development of the students.'

Filing of nominations in other colleges, including Sailabala Women's College, Emarti Devi, Christ College and City College, were peaceful.

In a bid to prevent violence, the police have tightened security measures in colleges across the state.

Police sources said PCR vans would be stationed in all the colleges.

The college authorities have been asked to keep strict vigil in the hostels.