GOPALPUR, ODISHA – Hundreds of students blockaded the Gopalpur police station on Wednesday, intensifying the ongoing Berhampur University protest over an alleged brutal attack on their student union president. The demonstration marks a significant escalation, with students accusing local law enforcement of deliberate inaction and demanding the immediate arrest of several individuals named in a formal complaint.
Protest Erupts Over Alleged Police Inaction
The situation boiled over Wednesday morning as scores of outraged students marched to the Gopalpur police station. Chanting slogans and carrying banners, they effectively surrounded the building, blocking the main entrance and demanding to speak with senior officials. The central grievance fueling the protest is the lack of arrests following a violent assault on Bhabani Sankar Sahu, the President of the Berhampur University Student’s Union, and other students several days prior.
“We filed a First Information Report (FIR) with the names of the attackers, yet days have passed with no action,” student leader Santosh Kumar Rout told local media outlet Odisha TV during the protest. “This is not just negligence; it feels like they are protecting the culprits. We will not move from here until justice is served.”
The students have issued an ultimatum, threatening to intensify their agitation across the district if the accused are not taken into custody promptly. The blockade caused significant disruption in the area, drawing a heavy police presence to maintain order.
The Assault That Triggered the Student Demands
The current standoff stems from an incident that occurred on campus late last week. According to the complaint filed with the police, Sahu and a few other students were attacked near the university’s science block by a group of assailants, allegedly non-students, who were armed with iron rods and other crude weapons. Sahu sustained injuries in the attack, which fellow students have described as a premeditated attempt to intimidate the student leadership.
An FIR was registered at the Gopalpur police station naming several individuals allegedly involved in the assault. However, the students’ frustration grew as the police failed to make any arrests in the subsequent days, leading to the planning of Wednesday’s gherao, a common form of protest in India that involves surrounding a location to demand action.
Responses from Authorities
As tensions escalated, officials from the police and the university administration sought to de-escalate the situation.
Gopalpur Police Response
Sarada Prasanna Dash, the Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) of the Gopalpur police station, addressed the protestors and media, assuring them that an investigation was actively underway. “We have received the complaint and are proceeding according to the law,” Dash stated, as reported by Sambad English. “An investigation takes time. We cannot make arrests without sufficient evidence. We urge the students to remain calm and have faith in the legal process.”
The police have reiterated that they are looking into all angles of the case, including potential rivalries between student groups, a common factor in campus violence in the region.
University Administration’s Appeal for Calm
The Berhampur University administration has also appealed for peace on campus. In a statement, University Registrar S.K. Baral called the attack on the student president “unfortunate” and urged students to end their protest and engage in dialogue.
“The university is committed to the safety and security of all its students,” the statement read. “We are in communication with the police to ensure a swift and fair investigation. Violence is not the solution, and we request the students to return to their academic activities.” The administration has also promised to review campus security measures to prevent non-students from gaining unauthorized access.
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The underlying issue of “outsiders” or non-students influencing campus politics and perpetrating violence is a long-standing problem in many Indian universities. These individuals are often linked to external political factions and are used to settle scores or intimidate rival student groups, making it a complex challenge for both university administrators and law enforcement. The current Berhampur University protest highlights the flashpoint this issue has become once again.
The situation remains tense, with students vowing to continue their demonstration until their student demands for the arrest of the accused are met. The standoff continues to be monitored closely by district authorities, who are hoping to broker a resolution before the protest spreads further.
