Tension Erupts at Utkal University Ahead of Student Union Elections, Police Intervene

Tension gripped Utkal University, popularly known as Bani Vihar, in Bhubaneswar as clashes reportedly broke out between two student groups ahead of a scheduled ‘Why I Stand For’ meeting. The incident comes as Odisha prepares to hold student union elections after an eight-year gap, triggering political activity across college campuses.

The situation at the university turned tense when members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) reportedly confronted each other shortly before the meeting was scheduled to begin. The incident prompted senior police officials to intervene to prevent further escalation.

Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Saravana Vivek M visited the campus and appealed to students to maintain peace. He also directed individuals who were not students to leave the university premises immediately.

Police Commissioner Suresh Devdatta Singh also appealed to students to maintain discipline and ensure that the scheduled ‘Why I Stand For’ programme could be conducted peacefully.

ABVP Alleges Attack on Student

Meanwhile, ABVP strongly condemned the alleged violence on the university campus and accused members of the BCJD of attacking students and disrupting the academic environment.

In a statement, ABVP alleged that an IMCA fourth-year student, Shyam Sundar Behera, was attacked during the ‘Why I Stand For’ programme and sustained injuries. The organisation further claimed that more than 100 outsiders entered the university premises and created a disturbance.

ABVP also alleged that the incident was orchestrated under the direction of Chinmay Sahu and Tanmay Swain. It claimed that the violence was intended to create fear among students and disrupt the student election process.

The organisation accused the rival group of resorting to violence out of fear of electoral defeat. However, these allegations could not be independently verified.

Police Appeal for Peace

With student union elections returning to Odisha after an eight-year hiatus, campuses across the state have witnessed heightened political activity. The latest incident at Utkal University has raised concerns about maintaining law and order during the election process.

Police officials have urged students to maintain restraint and ensure that campus activities proceed peacefully. Further details regarding the incident and any police action against those involved were not immediately available.