Bhubaneswar: A day after non-boarders were evicted from hostels, tensions flared at Utkal University on Tuesday as students and alumni stormed into the vice chancellor’s office demanding the removal of illegal occupants from residential quarters and slum dwellers living on the campus.
The protestors gathered in front of Vice Chancellor Jagneshwar Dandapat, Registrar Swati Mishra, and other officials, insisting that the eviction drive be extended beyond the hostels.
“Everyone wants peace here. Outsiders have been removed from hostels, but we also want action against illegal occupants in quarters and the slum dwellers on campus,” said a protesting former student.
Responding to the demands, the vice chancellor said that fresh notices have been issued to unauthorised occupants, and assured that eviction would be carried out shortly. Regarding slum dwellers, he added that discussions have already been initiated with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Registrar Swati Mishra confirmed that a second notice was served Tuesday, giving illegal occupants of staff quarters three days to vacate. “We have to follow due process. Eviction drives will be launched soon,” she said.
Mishra further added that the recent hostel eviction, carried out with police assistance, was part of a special drive to remove outsiders and restore a healthy academic environment on campus.
