Odisha college polls: BJB +3 students union election cancelled

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 18:

Elections for the plus 3 students’ union of the premier BJB Autonomous College in Odisha’s capital city have been cancelled in view of the pre-election violence in the college premises on Wednesday.

The announcement was made by the college principal Mohammed Nawaz Hasan today.

However, elections for the plus 2 students’ union will be held, informed Hasan.

“In view of yesterday’s unpleasant incidents, ransacking of the principal’s office and other rooms in the college and hurling of bombs etc. and keeping the safety and security of the students as well as that of the college staff in mind, the staff council of the BJB Autonomous College has unanimously decided to cancel holding of elections to the plus 3 students’ union of the college”, said BJB Autonomous College principal Mohammed Nawaz Hasan to reporters here today.

Hasan asserted that action will be taken against whosoever is found guilty for yesterday’s violence. He said Wednesday and Tuesday incidents were unequivocally condemned at the staff council meeting.

The principal said they have already sought the deployment of more policemen in the college campus to avoid any further violence in the campus.

While two groups of students of the BJB Autonomous College clashed on Wednesday morning, two bombs were hurled, one each at the women’s hostel and the men’s hostel. One woman boarder was injured in the incident and has been admitted to the Capital Hospital.

There is tension in the campus as one group of students are demanding the holding of students’ union elections saying, the decision to  cancel elections amounts to abrogation of students’ democratic  rights.