Bhubaneswar: Police on Friday warned action against Utkal University students as the unrest entered its third day against the state government's decision to set up the second campus of Rama Devi Women's University here.

The police on Friday said action would be initiated against the students taking law into their hands. The development came after irate students ransacked a defunct ambulance and tried to torch the vehicle.

"We have requested the varsity authorities to intervene in the matter and clarify its viewpoint to the students, so that the discontentment among them can be contained. However, action will be initiated if the students take law into their hands," said police commissioner Y.B. Khurania.

Situation became tense on the campus after demonstrators pelted the ambulance with stones and later tried to set it ablaze by putting a burning tyre under the vehicle. However, timely police intervention averted the mishap.

"We immediately removed the burning tyre and doused the flames. Two platoons of police have been deployed on Utkal campus to prevent any untoward incidents. We have also asked the university authorities to lodge a formal complaint in connection with Friday's incident," said a police official.

On the other hand, the students threatened to intensify their agitation till the government cancelled its decision to set up the women's university campus here.

"We are trying to garner more support and will held discussions among the students to boycott all the classes from Monday. We will not spare an inch of our university," said a student on condition of anonymity.

The students were supported by the faculty members and other employees of the university. Besides, all major student organisations have also been backing their demonstration. Earlier, a four-member committee, headed by Utkal University vice-chancellor Soumendra Mohan Patnaik, had been formed to identify 30 acres at the varsity for setting up the new campus of the women's varsity.