Students of Regional College of Management (RCM) staged a protest in front of the Governor House here on Tuesday afternoon over their long-pending demands. Eighteen of them were detained by police following the protest.
The students, who have been staging a relay hunger strike for over 70 days now, alleged that the management graduates, since 2009 academic session, have not been issued original degree certificates by the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) due to which their career is at stake. They also complained that they are yet to receive registration cards for the ongoing session.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nitinjeet Singh said despite repeated requests from the police, students staged demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan which is a violation of Section 144 of CrPC. While some had to be detained, a few others received minor injuries in a scuffle with the cops, he said.
On April 9, RCM students had taken out a similar rally raising their voice against the college authorities and BPUT and appealed Governor SC Jamir to intervene in the matter. On the following day, Jamir - who is also the Chancellor of the State universities - directed the college to issue original certificates to the students as early as possible.
Some of the students alleged that as there was no correspondence from either the college authorities or the BPUT even after the Governor’s assurance, they had no option left than to knock the doors of Jamir again.
Meanwhile, the RCM authorities, who were recently involved in a legal tussle with BPUT for autonomous status, claimed that the students will be issued certificates within a couple of days.