Bhubaneswar: Tension gripped the Utkal University campus at Vani Vihar here on Wednesday after supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Chhatra Biju Janata Dal (BCJD) clashed during a candidates’ meeting, leaving around seven people injured, police said.
The violence erupted during a ‘Why I Stand For’ meeting at the university’s Convocation Hall, a day before the scheduled student union elections on Thursday.
According to reports, ABVP-backed candidates and their supporters began a procession from the Central Canteen around 11 am and proceeded towards the meeting venue. BCJD-backed candidates and their supporters later arrived at the hall in a separate procession.
A heated exchange broke out between the rival groups near the entrance to the Convocation Hall over an unspecified issue, which soon escalated into a physical confrontation despite the presence of police personnel.
Supporters of both groups allegedly threw chairs and attacked each other with sticks attached to banners, creating chaos inside the hall. The incident left the decorated venue in disarray, while professors and other university staff present on the stage watched helplessly as the situation spiralled out of control.
Police personnel attempted to bring the situation under control but initially failed to disperse the rival groups.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Sarvana reached the spot following the incident and counselled both sides, directing outsiders to leave the premises. Police Commissioner S Devadatta Singh also visited the campus shortly afterwards.
Meanwhile, BCJD supporters staged a sit-in protest, alleging police bias in handling the situation.
After nearly two hours of efforts, police managed to remove non-students from the hall, allowing the candidates’ meeting to begin at around 1.30 pm.
With polling scheduled for Thursday, police and university authorities held an important meeting to review security arrangements and prevent further violence. Police personnel also conducted flag marches on the campus on Wednesday as part of heightened security measures.
