CP to probe BPUT students’ vandalism, BCJD expels two leaders

BHUBANESWAR: While Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) has expelled two of its leaders for indiscipline, the Commissionerate Police (CP) on Monday said it would probe the matter in connection with the road blockade and harassment to general public by Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) students near Master Canteen on Sunday evening.

Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said the Police would examine CCTV footage to identify wrongdoers and action will be taken against those found guilty.

Sources said a case had been registered at Kharavela police station here.

Notably, students owing allegiance to All Odisha BPUT Students’ Association had blocked the road at Master Canteen here staging a demonstration to protest against pelting of eggs and tomatoes on BPUT vice-chancellor Shyam Sundar Patnaik at a hotel here during the alumni meet of the Institute on Sunday.

There were complaints of protestors having harassed and even attacked general public (passersby).

Meanwhile, the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) on Monday has expelled two general secretaries (GSs) involved in indiscipline activities.

It has suspended Partha Sarathi Muduli and Adyaprana Subudhi for their involvement in Sunday’s protest.

It is to be noted that a group of BPUT students had on Sunday manhandled the VC following which the meeting was cancelled halfway.

The students were angry over the inordinate delay in publications of results, delay in issuance of certificates and mark sheets and irregularities in the BPUT administration.

Their simmering wrath took a violent turn on Sunday as they hurled eggs and tomatoes to the VC during the programme and rushed towards the dais shouting slogans.

Technical education minister Sanjay Das Burma, who was scheduled to attend the event, was conspicuous by his absence.

Raising the matter of frequent postponement of special recruitment drive 2014, for which 48,000 students had registered by paying Rs 100 each, and inordinate delay in the conduct of examinations and declaration of results, they threw tomatoes at the vice-chancellor.

Some students were seen trying to shove the vice-chancellor and engaging in a verbal duel with him. Another group, however, tried to pacify them and protected Pattnaik.

Meanwhile, the students’ wing of Congress on Monday lodged a complaint against Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sanjay Dasburma and BPUT VC Shyam Sundar Pattnaik at the capital police station here for irregularities in the recruitment process.