Sambalpur: Employees of the Odisha State Open University (OSOU) launched a protest against the ill-treatment and termination of many staff allegedly by Vice-Chancellor AK Das Mohapatra.

Demanding reinstatement of staff terminated on baseless grounds, the open university employees called for a cease work strike.

According to reports, many employees of the open university were fired from their services in the past three years over petty issues.

The employees are being insulted and threatened by the VC for no reason. They are forced to tender written apologies. Either they are given termination letters mentally harassing them or they leave their jobs after being dissatisfied with the VC's conduct, as per the allegations.

The VC is appointing people of his choice, prioritizing special families, and his students. He is increasing their salary, making partiality with other employees, alleged the agitating employees.

The notification for form fill-up is being issued without fixing the examination date, for which the students especially those who are staying at distant places and engaged in various works are facing difficulties. The staff were openly threatened at an event on January 1 on its premises, they alleged.