Tension gripped Fakir Mohan University in Baleshwar late Thursday night after nursing students from a private college staged a protest demanding the conduct of their pending examinations.
The students said they enrolled in a four-year nursing course six years ago but have yet to appear for their seventh and eighth semester exams. They accused the university of neglecting their academic future and began a sit-in protest at 9 AM, continuing until midnight.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Santosh Kumar Tripathy reached the spot to discuss the issue with the protesters. His health deteriorated during the unrest, and he was taken to the university hospital for treatment.
The nursing students alleged that university students assaulted them during the protest. They also claimed that the Vice-Chancellor misbehaved with their parents the previous day. The situation remained tense as police and university officials tried to restore order.
Students demanded immediate examination schedules and accountability from the administration. University authorities assured that steps would be taken to resolve the issue soon.
