Students on strike at BJB Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: A group of students from BJB (Autonomous) College today held a demonstration on the Arts Block premises, demanding stern action against ex-students, who had allegedly beaten up two students of the college last Friday.

The students alleged that Praveen Kumar Sahoo, a first-year student of sociology, and Rashmi Ranjan Ray, a second year student of history, had sustained injuries in the clash. The violence is said to have erupted in connection with the upcoming students’ union elections although the schedule for the same is yet to be announced.

“When some of us refused to support a particular presidential aspirant backed by the ex-students, they became violent and starting hitting us with hockey sticks and spades. A few of them were also carrying swords in an attempt to scare us,” said a student who was taking part in the demonstration.

He added that classes had not been affected because of the agitation. The students said the strike would continue till police took action against the offenders.

“We approached the principal on Saturday, urging him to bring the guilty ex-students to book. A case has been lodged with the Badagada police station but police are yet to take action,” said another student. College principal, Dusmanta Sahoo, however, said both groups had reached a compromise on Saturday. Calling the strike politically motivated, he said: “The matter was peacefully resolved on Saturday. I don’t understand what prompted them to raise this issue again. The students had not informed me about launching this agitation.”

Sahu said he would write to the secretary of the higher education department and inspector of Badagada police station to intervene.

“Police have been deployed on campus. So far, the demonstration has been peaceful, but we have asked the police to take action if a law and order situation arises,” he said.

The principal added that the college would cancel the students’ union elections if any untoward incident involving the students took place.