Students of Utkal University on Monday staged a demonstration on the campus protesting the decision to hike hostel fees.
Students, who used to pay Rs 3,075 for hostel accommodation earlier, will now have to dole out Rs 7,695 which includes Rs 1,200 as security money.
Students alleged that the decision has been taken to meet the expenses of deploying ex-servicemen to maintain round-the-clock vigil on the campus.
In their bid to beef up campus security, the University authorities last month hired 46 ex-servicemen. Prior to that, 64 security guards were deployed on the University premises through a private security agency since 2010.
Its contract was, however, not renewed as the University Syndicate expressed concern over lapses in security arrangements by the private security guards in the last meeting in February.
The students, on the other hand, claimed that the administration is hiking the hostel fees for maintaining proper security in the campus, which would mean an additional financial burden on them.
“The decision to hire ex-servicemen is welcome, but the fee hike will be a burden on us,” said Abhisek Mohapatra, a student.
The hike will come into effect from the new academic session.
The students said they would intensify their agitation if the University authorities do not roll back the decision in next two days.