Koraput: Students of Central University of Odisha, Koraput who launched an agitation over fulfillment of their 60-point charter of demands have withdrawn their stir after discussions with the varsity Vice-Chancellor (VC).
Earlier in the day, tension ran high at the Central University of Odisha (CUO) in Koraput after students intensified their agitation and demanded removal of the Vice-Chancellor.
The situation turned ugly when a group of agitating students stormed into the chamber of the Vice-Chancellor Sachidanada Mohanty seeking his dismissal.
While a group of students staged agitation at the varsity's main administrative office at Sunabeda, another group staged demonstration at the old campus of the university at Landiguda. Meanwhile, police personnel have been deployed outside the university to avoid any untoward incident.
"We have been sitting on dharna for the last three days. But neither the VC nor any other official of the university has come to us for a discussion. Meanwhile, around 25 students have fallen sick due to the strike and some of them have also been admitted to hospital," said an agitating student.
Meanwhile, the varsity Vice-Chancellor has said that only a relatively smaller section of students have hijacked the movement and are not letting the varsity function smoothly.
"We should not do anything that is objectionable and unacceptable. I believe in reformation not in punishment. I have never termed any students criminal rather I just stated that it is criminal mindedness to resort to such behavior. We have tried to meet most of the demands of the agitating students that is within our capabilities," Vice-Chancellor Sachidanada Mohanty said.
The university was closed sine die on March 15 following agitation by students seeking fulfillment of their demands which includes filling up of teacher vacancies, more departments, instruments for laboratory, more books for library, upgradation of hostel infrastructure, free wi-fi facility, an auditorium and ATM inside campus, among others.
The university authorities had lifted sine die on April 2 after a series of review meetings and unanimous recommendations of HoDs and officials to fulfill the demands of agitating students. Besides, classes were scheduled to begin in the campus from April 3. However, the varsity students continue to protest in the campus pressing for their demands.