Ravenshaw varsity student thrashed over Facebook post in Odisha

Cuttack: A student of Ravenshaw University was allegedly beaten up by another student inside the campus over Facebook post here in the city.

The victim identified as Surjyabhanu Patra, a Plus Three second year student of Ravenshaw University, lodged a complaint with the Malgodown Police Station as well as the varsity authorities, UGC and Higher Education department alleging physical assault by a student of MBA department on premises of the university on Independence Day.

According to reports, a student organisation had posted on Facebook regarding a programme scheduled to take out tricolour procession inside the university campus on the occasion of Independence Day. The incident took place when Surjyabhanu expressed his view on Facebook about the post that allegedly focused the organisation not the tricololur procession.

The accused student visited the hostel where Surjyabhanu was staying and asked him to delete his comment from the post on Facebook. He was beaten up and got death threat after he denied obeying his order.

The victim also alleged that the accused had been forcing him to join the student organisation earlier.

After receiving the complaint from the victim, the UGC asked the university to submit report on the incident within 24 hours.

The university authorities recorded the statement of both the accused and victim students as well as the hostel staff in the incident.

The preliminary report has been sent to the UGC and other angles in the incident will be probed, said Ravenshaw Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Rita Paikaray.

The accused was called to the police station under section 41 of CrPC for interrogation. Later, he was allowed to walk free serving him notice, informed Malgodown IIC Debi Prasad Patra.