The Berhampur University on Saturday cancelled the Students’ Union elections and closed the university sine die following student unrest over rejection of a candidate’s nomination. The authorities asked the students to vacate all hostels by 10 am on the day.
Sources said supporters of union general secretary candidate Ajit Swain vandalised the university campus on Friday night protesting rejection of Swain’s candidature. They also ransacked the office of the PG Council Chairman damaging several properties and locked him up along with a few other officials. They also burnt tyres and sat on a dharna in front of the quarters of the university Vice-Chancellor.
Later, police personnel were deployed in the campus to bring the situation under control. In view of the violence, the university VC held an emergency meeting and decided to cancel the elections.
“The authorities cancelled the candidature of Ajit Swain as he has a criminal case pending against him. He had also given a false affidavit while filling the nomination papers,” said a university official.