Sambalpur, Sept. 7: Prohibitory orders were imposed in Burla and the Veer Surendra Sai (V.S.S.) Medical College was closed sine die today owing to simmering tension between the medical college students and a section of local people.

Health services, especially the outdoor facilities, had been non-functional for the past three days after the students had struck work at the hospital following a clash with a local BJD leader and his supporters on September 4.

The BJD leader and his supporters, who had allegedly attacked a group of students, were arrested. However, the agitating students are demanding proper security on the college campus. They said such incidents — clashes between students and local people — had become more frequent owing to the absence of a well-secured campus.

About 500 people today gathered outside the hospital and demanded that the doctors must start outdoor services.

However, the students did not allow the doctors to open the outdoor facilities. This resulted in altercations between the local people and the students.

Later, the police intervened and asked the students to go to their campus. The two groups allegedly pelted stones at each other following which prohibitory orders were imposed in the city.

Following the incident, people of Burla blocked the national highway for more than an hour demanding restoration of the hospital services.

They also demanded arrest of the students, who were obstructing patients from getting treatment at the V.S.S. outdoor.

“Many people depend on V.S.S. Hospital. We are not opposed to the ceasework, but they don’t have any right to close the outdoor,” said Girija Sankar Naik, president of Burla town Congress committee.

“Yesterday, I went to V.S.S. to get my father’s check-up done. But, the students had obstructed me. My father could not be treated as the outdoor was closed. I had lodged a case in Burla police station. We had blocked the road demanding action against the erring students. However, we withdrew the agitation after the administration had assured us of action against the erring students,” said Gopal Lal, an agitator.

“Yesterday, we had a talk with the additional district magistrate. He had assured us that he would request the students to call off their agitation and allow the doctors to attend outdoor. This morning, people gathered in front of the hospital gate and requested the students to call off their agitation, but the students denied to withdraw their agitation,” said Chandrabati Naik, chairperson of Burla notified area council (NAC) .

“Following instructions from the government, we have declared sine die in the college. Those, who stay at the hostel, will have to leave the campus within 24 hours,” said Santosh Behera, principal of V.S.S. medical college.

“The situation in Burla is normal. The administration has imposed Section 144 under the Indian Penal Code in the city. Eight platoons of police have been deployed in the city to maintain law and order,” said Deviprashad Dash, sub-divisional police officer of Burla.