Keonjhar, March 22: The week-long dharna staged by the students of Orissa School of Mining Engineering (OSME) here was called off today following an assurance by the state government to fulfil their demands.

The dharna was lifted only after industries secretary, T Ramachandru, assured a delegation of students that he would resolve their problems.

“A four-member delegation of students met the industries secretary in Bhubaneswar yesterday. He promised us that he would address our problems. Following his assurance, we called off our strike,” said student leader Asit Kumar Sahu.

“The students have their legitimate and genuine demands and the industries secretary has promised the students to redress their grievances,” said principal Kalpataru Tirthbasi Parida.

Hundreds of agitating students of OSME sat on a dharna in front of their college, boycotting their classes since last Tuesday. They demanded fulfilment of their seven-point charter of demands.

The main demands were regular campus selection for the students, appointment of a training and placement officer for them, placement in local job vacancies, filling up vacant teacher posts and transportation facility to the students.

Though the agitating students called off the agitation for the time being, they threatened to intensify their protest if their demands were not met.

“If the authorities do not meet our demands, we will intensify our agitation,” said Utkal Keshari Khatua, another student.