Police personnel speak to Rajdhani College students on Monday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 30: Students of Rajdhani College today blocked National Highway 5 protesting against the alleged failure of the college authorities in preventing the entry of outsiders to the campus.

Vehicular movement on the highway came to a halt as more than 200 students blocked it for about half an hour. The blockade was lifted after police rushed to the spot and persuaded them to go back to the college. One platoon of police force was deployed in the area.

The students alleged that outsiders were not only entering the college campus, but also indulging in unlawful activities. They alleged that the intruders passed lewd comments at girls and also attacked some students.

“We have complained about this to the college authorities several times. But, they do not seem to bother about our grievances. Hence, we were forced to take this step,” said Chandi Prasad, president of the college students’ union.

Students said most of the intruders were local goons who used to harass them.

“In the past, many of our friends were attacked by them. On January 25, two students were attacked by outsiders,” said Rakesh Sahu, a student.

However, college principal Sailaja Nandini Jena said the students had not informed her about the recent incident of attack on them. They had also not informed her of their plan to organise a road blockade today.

“I had last got a complaint from the students on December 29 about some outsiders attacking them. I had reported it to Khandagiri police who took action against the accused,” said Jena, adding that she could not stop people from entering the college campus as all outsiders were not goons.

“As guardians of students come to the college for different official purposes, we can not restrict the entry of outsiders. However, we try to prevent non-students from entering the campus. We check the identity card of students who are found not wearing the college uniform. The college authority is trying its best to ensure peace and maintain discipline,” Jena said.

Khandagiri police also said confirmed receipt of a complaint on December 29 about non-students attacking college students. Two persons were arrested in connection with that incident.

“Whenever we get complaints, we intensify patrolling on the campus and its surroundings. We have also asked the students to submit written complaints whenever such incidents take place,” said a police officer.