Sunday violence at Utkal University, 2 ex-students held
By Sukanta Kumar Mohanty
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 13: The Odisha police on Monday arrested two former students of Utkal University for their alleged attack on Professor Surajit Majumdar of Jawaharlal Nehru University and a few others during a state-level seminar here on Sunday.
The arrested ex-students were identified as Manas Sahoo and Sanjaya Mallick.
According to Pradipta Nayak, convenor of Citizen Forum, a Bhubaneswar based social organisation, a symposium on ‘Indian Constitution and Education’ was organised at the PG Council Hall of Utkal University on Sunday morning.
While Professor Surajit Majumdar was delivering his speech, Manas, Sanjaya and a few other students trespassed into the PG Council Hall and created a ruckus. They asked the organizers to stop the professor from delivering his speech, contending that the latter was making “anti-national” and “casteist” observations
The situation went out of control and the angry students had a verbal duel with convener of Citizen Forum Pradeepta Nayak and lecturer Surendra Jena over some of the “objectionable remarks” of the JNU faculty. Consequently, the seminar had to be stopped midway. Later, both sides went to Saheed Nagar police station and lodged separate complaints.
Pradipta Nayak alleged in his complaint that the Manas and Sanjaya did not allow the professor to deliver his speech saying that the latter was making anti-national observations.
“We requested Manas and Sanjaya to allow the Professor Surajit Majumdar to complete his speech and then ask him questions or seek clarifications from him. However, they did not pay any heed to our requests. Instead, they went on to create ruckus in the hall. They even physically assaulted all of us,” Pradipta said.
Manas Sahoo, on the other hand, dismissed the allegation and said, “We went to the symposium to participate. During his speech, Professor Surajit Majumdar made some controversial observations. He said that India’s democracy is in danger. Upper castes are ruling the nation and we should oppose them and so on. Hearing this, we opposed him. In turn, they attacked us. Later, we stopped the programme on the grounds that at a University like Utkal University, none can deliver anti-national statements.”
