Student union elections have returned to educational institutions in Odisha after a long hiatus, but the run-up to the polls has triggered widespread tension and campus unrest in Bhubaneswar.
Two premier higher-education institutions—Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar (BJB) Autonomous College and Utkal University—witnessed violent confrontations as election campaigns intensified.
BJB College Presidential Candidate Injured in Pipili Clash
Aryan Mahapatra, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) backed presidential candidate for BJB Autonomous College, sustained head injuries during a violent clash in Pipili. According to reports, Mahapatra and his supporters had organized a gathering following a local campaign trail.
Tensions flared when a local student and a group of individuals arrived at the venue, objecting to arrangements near a local temple premises. The verbal altercation rapidly escalated into a physical confrontation, leaving Mahapatra with severe head injuries. He was initially rushed to Pipili Hospital and later transferred to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar for advanced medical care. Local police have registered a case and formed two special teams to apprehend the absconding suspects, having already detained one individual for questioning.
Unrest and Sloganeering at Utkal University
Simultaneously, the main campus of Utkal University (Vani Vihar) turned volatile as rival student factions—including supporters of the ABVP and the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD)—engaged in heated slogan-shouting and counter-protests. The situation threatened to spiral out of control before prompt intervention by law enforcement.
Zone ACP Biswaranjan Senapati and Saheed Nagar Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Suchitra Virjya Das rushed to the campus with heavy police reinforcements to disperse the crowds and restore order.
Bhubaneswar DCP Saravana Vivek M stated that swift police action prevented a major escalation and that the situation remains under tight surveillance. Additional police platoons have been deployed across campuses to ensure peace and prevent unauthorized gatherings as polling dates approach.
