Bhubaneswar, Aug. 1: Preventive arrests, deployment of around 900 police personnel, 1,500 youths on motorcycles and a human chain formed by members of the ruling party marked chief minister Naveen Patnaik's much-hyped visit to Utkal University today.
The police also shut roadside shops between Rabindra Mandap Square and Nicco Park Square, the stretch on which members of the Congress had hurled eggs at the chief minister's convoy during his last visit to the varsity in February 2015. The state government had suspended three policemen, including Binod Das, an additional SP rank officer, who was in charge of the chief minister's convoy and the inspector in charge of Kharavela Nagar police station at that time following the incident.
During his five-minute visit, Naveen inaugurated a sports complex and two hostels on the varsity premises. The heavy security arrangements caused a severe traffic jam at Acharya Vihar Square. The police said around 600 policemen were deployed from Naveen Nivas, the chief minister's official residence, to the entrance of the varsity, which was once a bastion of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the Congress's student wing. Besides, around 300 policemen were also deployed on the campus during the duration of his visit.
The police said the heavy security arrangements were made following threats from the NSUI and the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to oppose Naveen's visit.
"There were no untoward incident during the visit. We arrested around 40 members from both the student organisations as a precautionary measure," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.
Around 1,500 members of the BJD's student and youth wings were present on their motorcycles near Keshari Talkies - the spot from where the Congress activists had hurled eggs at Naveen's convoy last year. They also turned up at the university and formed a human chain from its entrance to the stadium.
The congregation of so many ruling party workers brought traffic to a standstill at Acharya Vihar for around 10 minutes.
"We have seen traffic being regulated for Naveen's visits several times in the recent past, which usually takes a few minutes. However, today it lasted for around 10 minutes. It is ridiculous that the entire traffic on the national highway is being regulated for a VIP's visit," said a commuter.
This is Naveen's second visit to the varsity in the past year and has particular significance ahead of students' union elections, which are scheduled for September. The Biju Chhatra Janata Dal also left no stone unturned to give a grand welcome to the chief minister. They put up several hoardings with messages of gratitude dotting the campus.
Naveen inaugurated the three structures but did not address the students. The Biju Patnaik Sports Complex has been set up on 15 acres by the Sports Council and Odisha Forest Development Corporation.
"The complex, which can seat 3,000, was built at an estimated cost of Rs 1.43 crore. It has facilities for football, rugby, basketball, volleyball and yoga, besides athletics and track events, kabaddi, kho-kho, cricket. It also has an open gym and a 1.3km walking track," varsity vice-chancellor Ashok Das said.
Naveen also inaugurated two 200-seater hostels, one each for men and women, built at a cost of Rs 7 crore each.
