Bhubaneswar: The Utkal University in Bhubaneswar launched a massive eviction drive, codenamed Operation Blue Star, on Monday to remove non-students from the boys’ hostels.
Reports said the operation, which began around 10:30 am, targeted hostels 1, 2, 3, and 5, where outsiders had been residing for years. A joint team of police forces, hostel wardens, and senior faculty members carried out the operation, acting on the directions of the university authorities.
Acting on the directions of the university authorities, police forces, hostel wardens, and senior faculty members jointly carried out the operation, targeting four hostels that had long been occupied by outsiders. The operation was carried out smoothly, with a large contingent of police deployed across the campus to prevent any clashes or disruptions.
The eviction drive was led by a team of senior police officials, including 5 ACPs, 4 IICs, and 13 SIs. Zone 5 ACP Biswaranjan Senapati acted as the Executive Magistrate to oversee the operation. During the drive, the authorities found over 150 rooms occupied by outsiders, many of whom were linked to external political outfits. The belongings of these non-students, including clothes and personal items, were seized and removed from the premises, said sources.
The university administration has, meanwhile, confirmed that the eviction drive will continue until all unauthorised occupants are removed and hostel facilities are restored exclusively for university students.
The eviction drive aimed to make the university campus free of outsiders and restore the hostels to their intended purpose of providing accommodation to students.
It is pertinent to mention that the directive to evict non-students from the campus followed earlier instructions from Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who had asked Utkal University to bar outsiders from entering the Vani Vihar campus to restore order and academic focus.
