Sambalpur, Dec. 26: Students of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) today locked the main gate of the institute and denied entry to medics from Sardar Rajas Medical College.
The students of Sardar Rajas Medical College visited the institute to submit their allotment letters.
The Veer Surendra Sai students have been opposing the decision to accommodate the Rajas students in the college. Earlier, they had staged a dharna on their college campus and locked the main gate as well. They, however, withdrew their agitation on December 12 after Orissa High Court had directed the state government to complete the Rajas students' relocation process by December 22. Subsequently, the Veer Surendra Sai students moved the Supreme Court over the issue.
Binod Barik, a student of the institute, said: "We have moved the Supreme Court over the issue. The hearing will take place on January 5. We will continue our agitation till the hearing takes place."
A third-year Rajas student, Senoja Sahu, said: "We have been asked to report to the institute authorities regarding relocation between December 24 and 30. All the 54 Rajas students, who have been allotted seats in the institute in Burla, today came to submit their allotment letters to the authorities. However, the institute students had locked the main gate."
"We do not know what to do now. We have already lost seven months. Our careers are at stake now. We hope that they (the Sai students) will understand our problem," she said.
In all, 12 second-year and 42 third-year students from Rajas came to the institute to submit their letters. Ramesh Chandra Samantray, who is officiating as the Sai principal, said: "The students are opposing the accommodation of Rajas students here. They locked the main gate today. The agitation hindered official work. We will discuss the matter with them. We are hopeful that a solution will emerge."
The parents of Rajas students called on district collector Balwant Singh and apprised him of the deadlock. Singh said he would discuss the matter with the agitating students on Monday.
