Last Update: February 13, 2023, 11:15 IST
Tension prevailed at Utkal University after a seminar here on Sunday as the organizers manhandled a section of the audience who objected to the speech delivered at the event, institute officials said.
After the fight, both the parties lodged separate complaints with the Shaheed Nagar police station.
Confirming that two complaints have been made, a local police officer said that the matter is being investigated.
The problem arose when a speech by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Surjit Majumdar was heckled by some students, allegedly affiliated with a political party, and a seminar organized by the Odisha-based Citizens’ Forum was interrupted. Had to stop
According to university officials, some members of the audience, mostly students, openly objected to Majumdar’s speech, which led to a verbal duel between him and Pradeep Nayak, the convenor of the Citizens Forum.
He said that apart from hurling abuses, the students also allegedly manhandled him.
The ruckus started when JNU professor Surjit Majumdar was delivering his speech. He was not speaking against anyone, not even against the government. But some students created a ruckus,” said Nayak.
He alleged that there were some outsiders in the group of protesters.
However, one of the protesters said that Majumdar had allegedly said in his speech that “the upper castes are ruling the country and we should oppose them”, something they did not agree with.
“We objected to his statement and the organizers then attacked us. We have closed the program as we do not want some people to misuse the premises. Meanwhile, after the scuffle, some students started a sit-in at the main gate of the university, demanding action against those who created tension on the campus.
read all latest education news Here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)