High Drama at Utkal University as Outsiders Create Ruckus, Assault Student

Bhubaneswar: High drama unfolded at Utkal University on Monday after a group of alleged outsiders created chaos inside the campus, vandalised shops, and assaulted a hostel inmate, triggering protests by students late into the night.

According to reports, the incident began in the afternoon and continued till late evening as four youths, allegedly led by a man identified as Deepak, roamed around the campus in an intoxicated condition. The accused reportedly harassed students and local shopkeepers, besides damaging shops and throwing away goods belonging to vendors.

Students alleged that the youths used abusive language and created panic within the university premises. The situation escalated further at night when the accused allegedly attacked Rashmiranjan, a hostel boarder and student of the Journalism and Mass Communication department.

The student reportedly sustained injuries on his face during the assault and ran into the hostel premises to save himself.

Following the incident, hostel inmates gathered at the spot and confronted the accused persons. While the prime accused, Deepak, allegedly managed to flee, students caught two of his associates and allegedly thrashed them before handing them over to police after calling a PCR van.

Tension intensified after agitating students staged a road blockade near the university’s main gate, demanding the immediate arrest of the absconding accused. Protesters alleged that intoxicated outsiders frequently enter the campus and harass students, while police have failed to take adequate preventive measures.

Police personnel from Sahid Nagar Police Station later reached the spot and held discussions with the students. The road blockade was withdrawn after police assured the protesters that efforts were underway to arrest the prime accused.

Police have detained three persons in connection with the incident and launched raids to trace the absconding accused, Deepak.