Bhubaneswar, Oct. 10: Unidentified thugs hurled four to five bombs at Capital Law College near CRP Square this morning, triggering panic on the campus.

Students suspect that the incident was meant to terrorise them and stall the elections. The explosions were heard around 9.15am when classes were on.

Srikant Jena, a final-year student and a prospective presidential candidate, said they were sitting in the classroom when they heard the loud explosions.

“All the explosions took place within a gap of two to three seconds. Hearing the loud explosions, we came out of the classroom and saw smoke in the garden near the principal’s office and in the open space in front of the building,” said Jena.

He said that when the students checked within one or two minutes after the bombs exploded, there was no one either inside the campus or outside.

Shaikh Shahanwaz Islam, a teacher who was taking a class at that time, said he was hit by a small particle when the explosions occurred outside his class.

“I think it was a splinter from the bombs. Luckily, it was very small and did not cause any injury,” said Islam.

After the incident, classes were stopped. Principal of the college Nandini Mishra said: “The noise was deafening. I immediately informed the local police and the deputy commissioner of police. I also informed our higher authorities.”

Nayapalli police rushed to the campus and started its investigation. Later, forensic and scientific teams visited the spot and collected splinters. The cops said that crude bombs were used.

“We have registered a case following complaints from the college principal and are investigating the matter,” said inspector in charge of Nayapalli police station Anup Kanungo.

Sources in the police said today’s incident was the fallout of infighting among three groups of students supported by three leaders of a particular political party.

Following the incident, the principal sought police help to provide security till the college election, which would be held on October 19. Police forces were deployed on the campus and outside the college after the incident.

The students alleged that someone had tried to create unrest on the campus to force the authorities to cancel the students’ union election this year.

“From the way the bombs were hurled, it seemed someone from the rooftop threw them. We suspect some students are involved in this act. They probably do not want the election to be held,” said Prasanna Martha, a second-year student and a presidential candidate.

The principal said the higher authorities would take a decision about the election in the college. “Besides, we will thoroughly check the identity cards of the students and force them to stick to a dress code, so that we can identify persons who are not students and stop them from entering the campus,” she said.