Sambalpur University Students Lathi Charged During Protest Against Offline Exam Amid Covid Threat

Sambalpur: Tension ran excessive on the premises of Sambalpur University on Tuesday after a lot of college students protesting the choice of the authorities to conduct offline examination allegedly resorted to violence and ransacked property contained in the varsity.
According to sources, Plus III college students of the varsity and different faculties affiliated to it have been protesting contained in the campus opposing conduct of third semester examination on offline mode amid the contemporary risk of novel-Coronavirus wave.
Police lathi charged the protesting college students once they entered the workplace of the Vice-Chancellor. Heavy deployment of police forces was seen on the campus to thwart any untoward incident.

Students of Sambalpur University ransack property contained in the campus, try and barge into Vice-Chancellor’s workplace opposing offline examination of Plus III third semester; police resort to lathi cost #Odisha
— OTV (@otvnews) April 6, 2021

“Students of all colleges of western Odisha affiliated to Sambalpur University assembled today. Our classes were conducted via online mode for Plus III third semester, but the university authorities want us to appear for the examination through offline mode,” stated a pupil.
“Appearing for offline examination is not possible, given the grim situation of Covid-19 pandemic. Who will guarantee that the students will not contract the virus while coming from far-off places and appearing in the examination,” the protesting pupil questioned.
Earlier, the varsity authorities had issued time schedule for the examination to be performed from April 19. However, yesterday the authorities revised the schedule and determined to carry the examination from April 27.
“We demand online conduct of the examination due to coronavirus. We had come to take up the issue with the VC peacefully, but we were not allowed to meet him. While trying to enter his chamber, some furniture got broken. Irate over the development, the VC and the administration asked the police to baton charge on us,”
Speaking on the difficulty, the VC Sanjeev Mittal stated, “The protesting students damaged furniture, main gate, reception, cooler and sanitiser machine. The property destroyed during the incident could cost between Rs 2 and 2.5 lakh. They did not submit any memorandum, but a letter stating that they belong to National Students Union of India and demanded online mode of Plus III third semester examination.”
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)