BHUBANESWAR: Less than 48 hours after the Department of Higher Education announced date for students’ union election, the Capital City witnessed pre-poll violence at Rajdhani College campus on Monday afternoon.
Tension erupted when three youths riding on two motorcycles entered the campus and assaulted a group of students while the latter were discussing about the elections. The injured students were shifted to Capital Hospital here for treatment.
According to the sources, the motorcyclists were outsiders, who are regular at college campus during students’ union polls. Three persons have been detained and were being examined by the Khandagiri Police in this connection, IIC Sarat Sahu said.
The clash was an outcome of a rivalry between followers of leaders of the ruling party, sources added. Till last reports came in, there was mild tension in the campus and the police was keepin a close watch on the college premises to prevent the situation from aggravating.
On Saturday, the Higher Education Department had announced that the students union polls will be held on October 5.
Last year, Rajdhani college was among three other colleges and Utkal University in the city, where the elections were scrapped owing to pre-poll violence.
With 15 more days left for the election, the police is gearing up to adopt appropriate security measures to prevent campus violence, DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said.