Utkal University students protest outside the postgraduate council chairman’s office on Thursday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 20: Several girl students of Utkal University today locked up the institute’s main gate protesting against poor security arrangements in hostels.

They alleged that unidentified goons had tried to enter the hostels after midnight over the past two days.

“Some people tried to enter the hostel yesterday around 1am. They knocked on the windows and made sounds to scare us,” said Pratibha, a student. A similar incident had happened in hostel No. 6 on Tuesday. Following the Tuesday’s incident, the students informed the hostel superintendent and college authorities. “But no action was taken. It was repeated today,” said Sushma, another student.

“They are probably waiting for somebody to get raped. Only then they would take steps,” said Jyoti, another student.

The boundary walls adjoining the hostels were damaged following Phailin and have not been repaired since then. “What have they done with the money sanctioned for Phailin?” said student leader Tanmay Swain.

The students also staged protests before offices of the postgraduate council chairman, the vice-chancellor and the registrar.

Later, they marched to the main gate and locked it. They also burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the authorities.

An FIR was lodged in the afternoon after a group of students met higher education secretary Gagan Dhal.

Dhal assured them to look into the matter and complete the boundary wall work in a week. A section of police was deployed on the spot.