JNU professor Surajit Mazumdar’s speech sparks tension at Utkal University; FIR lodged

Bhubaneswar: Tension ran high at Utkal University in Odisha capital today as a student leader and his associates opposed JNU Professor Surajit Mazumdar’s speech during a seminar.

According to reports, a seminar over the topic of constitution of the country was organised on the varsity premises by the Odisha Citizens Forum at the PG Council Hall. While Professor Mazumdar was delivering a lecture, the student leader and his associates raised objection and created ruckus demanding to stop the event.

Subsequently, a heated exchange of words ensued between the organisers of the seminar and the opposers. Two persons were reportedly injured in the incident.

Later, the two sides filed FIR against each other at the Saheed Nagar police station. Police have started investigation into the incident.

“When I was delivering my speech, some youths opposed it and later tried to stop the event. They also thrashed some of the organisers,” said Professor Mazumdar.

“He (Professor Surajit Mazumdar) was opining that the country is going in a ‘different direction’, which was objected by some youths. As the organisers tried to stop them, the opposers thrashed me. We were later rescued by police,” one of the organisers said.

“It was being discussed at the seminar that the constitution is in danger. As we opposed it, the organisers manhandled us. Their allegations against us are baseless. We talked to the PG Council Chairman and came to know that permission was not given for organising the seminar. However, the organisers are claiming that they got permission. Organising a seminar at the university on a Sunday is also questionable,” the student leader said.