Cuttack, Oct. 5: Students of Shailabala Women’s College today boycotted classes and staged a demonstration in protest against the removal of their college principal.

The students demonstrated in front of their college and later gheraoed the collectorate, demanding immediate measures to reinstate Roshanara Begum as their principal-in-charge.

Vehicular traffic near the busy Chandimandir square was disrupted for nearly 45 minutes following the demonstration. Roshanara, who was appointed as the principal-in-charge last month, was removed and Haramohan Mishra was appointed as the principal by the government on October 3.

“Our principal has been removed without any notice and she has not been transferred. We will continue our agitation till the government revokes the order,” said Milan Mishra, a student. Students said Roshanara Begum had initiated a lot of developmental work and was attached to the students.

“Our principal Roshanara Begum was a friend to us and she used to listen to our grievances. We do not know why she was removed all of a sudden by the authorities,” said Rashmita Pradhan, another student. Not only students, but lecturers and other officials of the college have also expressed their anguish over the entire incident.

“We were shocked when we got to know that Roshanara had been removed from the post. She is the most capable person to manage the institute,” said Nibedita Patnaik, a reader of English literature.

Roshanara Begum too said: “Grave injustice has been done to me. I have been carrying out my duties sincerely and diligently.”

“It is really humiliating that I have been removed from the post and the government has appointed a person who is my junior, ” said Roshanara.

Roshanara began her career from Shailabala Women’s College in 1978 and rejoined in 2010. She was appointed as principal in charge in September.