Bhubaneswar, Oct. 4: The authorities of Gandhi Institute for Technological Advancement (GITA) have requested parents and guardians to ensure that their wards “cooperate in restoring peace and normalcy” on campus.

Classes for B.Tech second, third and fourth year students of the institute were closed for an indefinite period following a ragging-related clash on September 19 in which 12 students, mostly girls, were injured.

Since last week, GITA’s principal R.K. Galgali has been sending letters to parents and guardians describing the string of events that had led to the clash. In the letter, he also sought their help in breaking the impasse.

The letter says there was an argument between some second and third year students during Biswakarma puja celebrations on September 17 but staff members present on the spot prevented further flare-up.

Later, a second-year student was manhandled, which prompted some fourth-year students to intervene.

“The fourth-year students, however, were insulted by the third-year students which led to a chaotic situation requiring police intervention.

Though there was no tension the following day, we took all precautionary measures by asking our staff members to stay on the campus till 10pm,” said an official of GITA.

On September 19, girl students from the third-year batch alleged that fourth-year students had ragged them in the hostel on the night of September 17.

They said the seniors humiliated them in front of other hostel inmates and threatened them not to inform the authorities about the incident.

However, they approached the authorities and lodged a formal complaint.

The principal referred them to the disciplinary committee and anti-ragging squad, constituted by the institute, to report the matter.

However, even before the disciplinary committee submitted the report, the third-year students, demanding immediate action, started raising slogans in filthy language against the fourth-year students.

This ultimately led to a clash between these two groups of students. As a result, the college had to be closed for an indefinite period,” the official said, adding that students vacated the hostels soon after the clash.

This prompted the state government to order an inquiry into the alleged incident of ragging.

A committee headed by state industries secretary has been constituted to look into the complaints.

In another development, the institute has suspended 13 students of third-year and 17 students of fourth-year on the basis of prima facie evidence.

“The college will remain closed till October 12 for the Puja vacations.

However, classes for the first-year B.Tech students and MBA, MCA and M.Tech students were being conducted according to schedule until vacations started.

The indefinite closure order for second-year has also been revoked. Disciplinary action will be taken following the suggestions by the committee constituted by the government. We hope peace will be restored on the college campus soon,” said the official.