Bhubaneswar: Police on Wednesday stopped two buses carrying students of Chitrada College in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district from travelling to Puri for the darshan of Lord Jagannath, citing the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the student union elections scheduled for October 15, an officer said.
The buses, carrying students from the college, were intercepted near Dantiamuhan village under Morada police station limits while they were on their way to Puri.
According to police, the students were allegedly being taken on a religious trip with the intention of influencing voters in favour of a particular candidate in the upcoming college elections.
The police stopped the buses and took the students to Betnoti police station before asking them to return home, officials said.
However, some students claimed that they were travelling voluntarily, with their parents’ permission, to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath.
“We were planning to visit Puri to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath. We wanted to pray for our friend to win the election. Around 120–130 students were travelling together when the IIC of Morada police station stopped our buses. When we asked why we could not proceed, he said we were travelling under political influence,” a student said.
Chitrada College Principal Biswajit Mohanta said the police had informed him about the matter late on Tuesday night.
He said the officer-in-charge (IIC) had asked him to reach the spot, following which the students were sent back home.
Morada police station IIC Sumeet Kumar Soren said the police had received information that a group was taking students to Puri on the promise of a religious visit to influence their votes in favour of a particular candidate.
“After receiving the information, we intercepted the buses near Dantiamuhan village and took the students to Betnoti police station. Since the Model Code of Conduct was in force, we explained the situation to them and contacted the college principal. After discussions, the students agreed to return home,” Soren said.
The student union elections at Chitrada College are scheduled for October 15.
