BHUBANESWAR: Following violence and unrest in the BJB Autonomous College campus, students union election was cancelled and college closed sine die on Friday.Though the staff council of the college in the morning had decided to go ahead with the election, the decision was rolled back in the evening after police informed the college principal and election advisors about possibility of students’ violence in the campus ahead of the poll.
Principal Mohammed Nawaz Hasan said, in wake of students security, the election was called off and sine die declared. All residents of boys and girls hostels have been asked to vacate their rooms by Saturday.
On Thursday night, two bombs were hurled at the women’s hostel in BJB. Two groups of students, owing allegiance to two political parties, had been on agitation in the campus since Friday morning demanding holding of election.
On the other hand, despite violence on the campus, election will be held at Maharshi College. A bomb was reportedly hurled outside the principal’s office in Maharshi college by miscreants on Friday. However, police refuted the claim. Principal LN Mohanty said, while he and his staff heard a loud explosion, they are not sure if it was a bomb or a cracker. “The election will be organised as per schedule and so far as security is concerned, 10 CCTV cameras have been installed,”he informed.
Filing of nominations today
Bhubaneswar: With the filing of nominations for the elections to be held on Saturday, authorities of various colleges, Utkal and Ramadevi Universities reviewed security provisions on the campuses on Friday.At Utkal University, the existing security personnel and police have started patrolling the campus to prevent entry of outsiders. A meeting on election preparedness was held in the campus. It was presided over by VC Soumendra Mohan Patnaik. A special squad has been formed comprising heads of the departments, administrative officials and hostel superintendents to keep an eye on the law and order situation in the campus.
Beginning Saturday, hostel superintendents and assistant superintendents will keep round-the-clock vigil on movement of students in all the 14 hostels to check entry of outsiders. The faculty members have also been asked to keep a watch on the movement of outsiders. The election will be held as per the Lyngdoh Commission recommendations and no violation would be tolerated, the VC said.
While it was earlier decided that temporary police camps will be opened in the boys hostels 1 and 6 in university for one month, the VC said there might not be a need for the arrangement as the situation is normal as of now. Currently, 52 former army personnel are guarding the three gates of the university. To check the entry of outsiders, the university authorities have already installed CCTVs in all gates besides, two boys hostel and as many girls hostels. Hectic campaign is underway in Utkal University and Ramadevi Women’s University while Basic Science College and City Women’s College have decided not to conduct the election.