Rourkela, June 1: An agitation by students of the National Institute of Technology here demanding the filing of a police complaint against the institute's chief security officer and his immediate removal has found support from its teachers and alumni.

The students are continuing with their round-the-clock sit-in demonstration in front of the institute's auditorium.

Though the authorities have suspended chief security officer Balaram Champatiray, the students are not satisfied with the disciplinary action that has been taken. They alleged that the institute was shielding Champatiray. They stuck to their demand for the removal of Champatiray and the incumbent director of the institute.

President of the NIT teachers' association Bibhuti Bhusan Biswal said: "We appreciate the action of the students. We also demand the strongest possible action against the culprits in this case as it has tarnished the image of the institute."

He told The Telegraph that tomorrow, there would be an open-house discussion on the issue.

President of the NIT Rourkela Alumni Association B.B. Mohanty, who belongs to the first batch of the institute, said he was shocked at the "mishandling" of the incident. "When the registrar of the institute could be suspended in another case within a day, why did it take three days to suspend Champatiray?" he asked.

"The issue could have been nipped in the bud by suspending the chief security officer and lodging a police complaint," added Mohanty.