(Above and left) The guest house of Berhampur University lies in a shambles. Pictures by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Aug. 25: Around 50 goons armed with iron rods and bamboo sticks ransacked the guest house of Berhampur University and damaged car of Manoranjan Kar, vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhuba-neswar, who was staying there along with his staff.

“The attack started around 2.10am and continued for about 30 minutes,” Berhampur University registrar Manmath Padhi said today.

Property worth Rs 10 lakh was damaged. The goons broke the glass panes of all the doors and windows, apart from the skylight glass that was repaired recently. They did not spare the phone table at the entrance to the guest house, the main glass door, wash basins, mirrors, dining table and chairs, many plastic chairs and all electric light in the guest house, among other things, said the registrar.

“Two watch and ward staff of Berhampur University were on duty at that time. We have informed the police chief and the district administration to investigate the incident and punish the culprits. The issue was discussed at an urgent meeting of the syndicate this afternoon,” Padhi said.

College of Fisheries director D. Satpathy has lodged an FIR at Gopalpur police station and accused some students of being beshind it. “The students used filthy language and asked all of the guests to go out,” Satpathy said. However, Padi was not categorical about the involvement of students.

“We are still in the dark. The watch and ward staff informed the campus superintendent and we immediately intimated the police chief and the district administration for action,” the registrar said.

“Investigation is on,” Gopalpur assistant sub-inspector Bishnu Gouda said.

OUAT vice-chancellor Manoranjan Kar and his staff, who had attended the foundation of OUAT at the College of Fisheries, left the guest house after the incident.