Bhubaneswar, July 29: Twenty-one All India Students’ Federation (AISF) activists and some students of Lord Jagannath Mission College and School of Nursing were arrested last night for entering into a prohibited area on Mahatma Gandhi Marg.

Around 300 boys and girls of the college defied a police cordon to enter the area.

The students, mostly girls of the nursing college located in Mancheswar Industrial Area, broke the police cordon around 9.30pm after some of their friends fell sick following a three-day protest held at lower PMG. The girls alleged that there were no arrangements made by the administration to send the sick to hospital.

Later, the students led by AISF activists marched towards the Secretariat breaking the cordon and defying a handful of police personnel. As the police tried to stop the girls, a scuffle ensued. Police officers, including the deputy commissioner of police, had to rush to the spot. Around 15 girls were hospitalised after some of them fell sick following the protest and some were injured in the scuffle.

Vehicles on Mahatma Gandhi Marg had to be diverted as the students blocked the road till midnight. The police arrested the AISF members and male students for entering into the prohibited area.

“They will be produced in court tomorrow,” said a police officer.

The students had been on a strike protesting against mismanagement by college authorities. They had reportedly presented an 11-point demand before the college management. As the college authorities did not listen to their demands, they came to Mahatma Gandhi Marg to draw the attention of the health department.

The girls alleged that the college management staff had been passing lewd remarks at them. They also alleged that the college authorities were not providing them with basic amenities at the hostel. Besides, they alleged that the management had been harassing the students in the name of facilitating loans.

“We presented our demands to the management, but they did not listen to us. They do not even provide us with good faculty members. Besides, they did not give us proper facilities in the hostel though they were taking a huge amount from us as fees,” said Rosalin Mallick, one of the protesting students.

Students also alleged that the management closed the institution indefinitely and did not allow the agitating students stay in the hostel. “The health department officials assured us that they would conduct an inquiry. But the college authorities did not want the students to be present during the inquiry,” said Ranjita Jena, another student.