Bhubaneswar: A student leader of North Odisha University on Tuesday accused former law minister and BJD legislator Arun Sahoo of forcing him to do sit-ups when he met him at the Baripada Circuit House. Sahoo is the ruling party's observer for Mayurbhanj district.
Student union president of the university Tushar Kumar Nayak alleged that the incident took place on Tuesday morning when he had gone to the circuit house to meet some student leaders of the ruling party to discuss some long-standing demands of the university.
"I was not aware about the presence of Sahoo there. When we tried to take up the issue with him, he misbehaved with me and asked me to do 50 sit-ups. He also threw his mobile phone at me and asked me to leave the room," alleged Nayak, who also claimed to have the support of the BJD.
Nayak later posted his ordeal on the Facebook. He also claimed that the chairman of Special Development Council Debashish Marandi was also present in the room when the incident took place.
"If senior leaders of the party behave in such a way, what will be the future of students like us? I am thinking of distancing myself from the party," said Nayak.
The students of the university have been demanding fulfilment of various demands, including regularisation of various subjects and introduction of self-financing MPhil courses. The students' union has also threatened to launch an indefinite strike over the issue. "Senior leaders should pay attention to the genuine demands of students. I will continue to fight for the demands of the students. All the students of the university are with me," said Nayak.
Frequent attempts by The Telegraph to contact Sahoo on his mobile phone on Tuesday did not yield any result, as his phone remained switched off throughout the day.
Officer supended
The state government on Monday suspended senior Odisha Administrative Service officer Deba Prasad Dash as a part of departmental disciplinary action. General administration department has instructed Dash to stay in Cuttack headquarters during the period of suspension.
