Sine die lifted at Odisha’s Utkal University; VC’s office gheraoed

Bhubaneswar: Though normalcy returned to Utkal University in Odisha capital today after around 20 days as the varsity authorities lifted sine die imposed in the campus following incidents of violence before students’ union poll, some students gheraoed the office of the Vice-Chancellor Soumendra Mohan Patnaik demanding elections.

They demanded reconsideration of the decision to cancel the polls and conduct election in the varsity this year.

On the other hand, the decision of the university authorities to lift sine die has come as a sigh of relief for students, especially hostel inmates.

As per the decision, the students can enter the varsity through main gate showing their identity cards to security personnel. However, there will be no restriction for the students staying in the hostels inside the university campus.

The classes will be held after lifting the sine die, informed PG Council Chairman Brahmananda Satpathy.

The move came by university authorities after discussing with the Commissionerate police. A nine-member committee of the university held discussion with Police Commissioner YB Khurania at the Commissionerate police headquarters. The decision to lift sine die at the university was taken after the meeting, Satpathy said.

Adequate police forces will be deployed in the campus if needed, said Khurania.

Notably, Utkal University was closed sine die on September 18 following sporadic incidents of violence inside the campus ahead of the students’ union elections. The decision of the authorities came after several low-intensity crackers were hurled inside the campus forcing the cops to clamp Section 144.