Vyasanagar College poll cancelled after blasts

Jajpur : The scheduled student union election at Vyasanagar Autonomous College in Jajpur district was cancelled on Thursday after miscreants allegedly hurled crude bombs on the campus, officials said. The college authorities issued a notification cancelling the polls following a unanimous decision by the election and academic committees.

The institute will remain closed until further orders, while students staying in hostels have been asked to vacate them by Friday morning, according to a notification. The decision came after tension prevailed on the campus following the bomb explosions in the early hours.

The first explosion took place near the official residence of college principal Akshaya Tripathy, while another bomb was allegedly hurled near the boys’ hostel, triggering panic among students. Hearing a loud explosion, Tripathy rushed outside and found the area engulfed in smoke. The college authorities informed police, following which personnel from Jajpur Road police station reached the spot and launched an investigation. Police also recovered some unexploded bombs from the campus, officials said.

The explosions took place a day before the scheduled filing of nomination papers for the student union elections, raising concerns over security arrangements on the campus. Several students staged a protest outside the college gate, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the explosions. A police scientific team examined the spot as part of the investigation.

The accused have not yet been identified, and the motive behind the incident is yet to be ascertained, an official said. In a related development, student union elections were also cancelled at Upendra Nath Sarada Mahavidyalaya at Khairabad-Mugpal under Kuakhia police station limits in Jajpur district after tension prevailed on the campus.